Policy Address

Promoting the Development of Private Healthcare

82.    To consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's position as a prime medical centre in the region, we must have comprehensive measures in place to upgrade our hardware and software.  For the hardware, we will encourage and facilitate the development of private hospitals.  The Government is identifying suitable sites initially including the Wong Chuk Hang, Tseung Kwan O, Tai Po and North Lantau areas.  We will invite expressions of interest and proposals on hospital development from the private sector.  We will formulate policies to ensure that the premiums for such land are fair to the private hospitals and the public.  We will also ensure that the development of private hospitals will further upgrade our healthcare services to benefit the community and promote the expansion of the medical services industry.

83.   As for the software, we need to attract talent from around the world to enhance training, exchanges and the professional competence of our healthcare personnel.  In full respect for professional autonomy, we will discuss with the healthcare registration bodies, training providers and professional bodies ways to strengthen local medical practitioners' professional competence in line with international standards.

84.   In parallel, the Government will take steps to redress the serious imbalance in the provision of public and private healthcare services.  We will implement a series of pilot measures to promote public-private partnership.  These include purchasing primary care services and hospital services from the private sector, subsidising the public for preventive care provided by the private sector, and establishing medical centres of excellence in paediatrics and neuroscience.

 

Contents | Next