166 | Health
Inpatient Services
Inpatient services are provided by the HA for people requiring intensive treatment for acute illnesses. In 2009-10, a total of $23.2 billion was allocated for providing these services by hospitals under HA. Public hospital doctors use internal medicine, surgery and other specialist methods to treat patients with different illnesses.
In 2010, a total of 1.42 million inpatients and day-patients were discharged from public hospitals. In line with the international trend, the HA will continue to strengthen the development of ambulatory and community care programmes to provide patients with rehabilitation services in their respective districts as far as possible. This is a major shift in the provision of healthcare services from a disease treatment model to a holistic healthcare model, and from focusing on episodic acute hospital care to adopting a comprehensive approach centred on preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care.
Accident and Emergency Services
Accident and emergency services are provided at 16 hospitals under the HA. They deliver a high standard of service for critically ill or injured persons who need urgent medical attention. They also provide medical support for victims of disasters. A total of $1.8 billion was allocated for providing such services in the 2009-10 financial year.
In 2010, a total of 1.25 million people paid 2.22 million visits to the accident and emergency departments of public hospitals, an average of 6 094 attendances per day. Patients attending the accident and emergency departments of public hospitals are classified under five categories according to their clinical conditions: Critical cases are classified under Category 1, emergency cases under Category 2, urgent cases under Category 3, semi-urgent cases under Category 4, and non- urgent cases under Category 5.
The triage system ensures that patients with more urgent needs receive prompt attention. In 2010, all Category 1 patients received immediate treatment while over 95 per cent of Category 2 patients were treated within 15 minutes.
Medical Charges and Waiver
Fees for public hospital and clinic services for the general public are affordable. They are subsidised by up to 95 per cent by the Government, with people receiving assistance under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme exempted from paying. Other needy groups are assisted through a medical fee waiver scheme. Recipients of this waiver include low-income patients, the chronically ill, and elderly patients with financial difficulties.
Private Hospitals
Hong Kong's 13 private hospitals served 361 563 inpatients in 2009, representing 21 per cent of the total number of inpatients in the territory. According to existing figures, spending on private inpatient services amounts to $7.1 billion,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.