Health 167
accounting for 25 per cent of overall expenditure on inpatient services in the public and private sectors.
Healthcare Service Development and Infrastructure
Public Hospitals Development Project
A number of public hospital development projects being carried out will help improve healthcare services in different parts of Hong Kong. These include an extension of Prince of Wales Hospital, preparatory work on the redevelopment of Yan Chai Hospital, expansion of Tseung Kwan O Hospital, relocation of Siu Lam Hospital to Block B of Castle Peak Hospital, North Lantau Hospital Phase 1 and redevelopment of Caritas Medical Centre Phase 2.
Public-private Partnership Projects in Healthcare Services
The Government has launched a series of public-private partnership (PPP) pilot projects through the HA to promote the PPP concept in healthcare services. These include a Cataract Surgeries Programme, launched in February 2008, which provide a subsidy for public patients undergoing cataract surgeries performed by private ophthalmologists. By the end of 2010, a total of 95 ophthalmologists had taken part in the programme and 12 500 patients had enrolled, 9 000 of whom underwent cataract surgery.
The HA implemented a Tin Shui Wai Primary Care Partnership Project in Tin Shui Wai in June 2008. Under this programme, healthcare services are purchased from the private sector to treat chronic disease patients living in Tin Shui Wai North who need long-term follow-up treatment at general outpatient clinics. Participating patients receive a Government subsidy and can choose to receive treatment from any participating doctor. As at the end of 2010, ten private doctors and 1 584 patients enrolled in the programme.
The Public-Private Chronic Disease Management Shared Care Programme has been implemented in Sha Tin and Tai Po in the HA's New Territories East Cluster since March 2010 and in Wan Chai and Eastern District in the Hong Kong East Cluster since September 2010. For chronic disease patients currently being followed up in the public healthcare system, this programme provides an additional choice which allows them to have a private doctor to follow up on their conditions with a partial subsidy provided by the Government. It also aims to establish long-term patient-doctor relationships in order to achieve the objective of continuous and holistic care.
In addition, the Haemodialysis Public-Private Partnership Programme was launched in March 2010 to utilise spare capacity in the private sector in providing haemodialysis services to eligible patients with end-stage renal disease currently under the care of HA.
To enhance primary care services for the elderly and to encourage continuity of care, in January 2009 the Government implemented a three-year Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme under which five $50 healthcare vouchers are given annually
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