ENG-2016 — Page 188

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Health

non-urgent cases under Category 5. The triage system ensures patients with more urgent needs receive prompt treatment. In 2016, all Category 1 patients received immediate treatment while 97 per cent of Category 2 patients were treated within 15 minutes.

Medical Charges and Waivers

Fees for public hospital and clinic services for the public are subsidised at the rate of 97 per cent by the government, and are waived for CSSA recipients. A medical fee waiver mechanism helps other needy groups, including low-income patients, the chronically ill, and elderly patients with financial difficulties.

Private Hospitals

The private care sector complements the public sector by providing a range of specialist and hospital services. There are doctors of Western medicine, Chinese medicine practitioners, dentists, nurses, chiropractors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, optometrists and other healthcare professionals.

The 11 private hospitals served 381,690 inpatients in 2015, representing 19 per cent of the city's total number of inpatients. Spending on private inpatient services amounted to $15.9 billion in 2013-14, accounting for 33 per cent of overall expenditure on inpatient services in the public and private sectors.

Development and Infrastructure

Public Hospital Development Projects

In 2016, remaining works for the redevelopment of Yan Chai Hospital, construction of Tin Shui Wai Hospital and reprovisioning of Yaumatei Specialist Clinic at Queen Elizabeth Hospital were completed. The government began substructure and utilities diversion works for the extension of Tuen Mun Hospital's Operating Theatre Block, phase 1 redevelopment of Kwai Chung Hospital, demolition and substructure works for phase 1 redevelopment of Kwong Wah Hospital, and the expansion of Haven of Hope Hospital. Other ongoing projects include the construction of Hong Kong Children's Hospital, demolition and substructure works to expand United Christian Hospital, refurbishment of Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital, and expansion of Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Headquarters. Preparatory works for phase 1 redevelopment of Queen Mary Hospital are under way.

Public-private Partnership Projects

The government takes part in clinical public-private partnership projects through the Hospital Authority, including the Cataract Surgeries Programme, Patient Empowerment Programme, Haemodialysis Public-Private Partnership Programme, and Project on Enhancing Radiologica! Investigation Services through Collaboration with the Private Sector. The Provision of Infirmary Service through Public-Private Partnership and Colon Assessment Public-Private Partnership Programme were launched in September and December respectively.

The Hospital Authority's General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership Programme subsidises hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus patients (with or without hyperlipidemia) of stable condition from its general outpatient clinics to receive treatment by private doctors. The

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