Hospitals need to be expanded to optimize healthcare services, CE says
At the Q&A Session on the Chief Executive's Policy Address 2024 held today morning (Oct. 17), LegCo Member Lam So-wai enquired about the optimization of the triage system for specialist out-patient services and the referral arrangements, including details of the policy on the establishment of multi-specialty integrated out-patient clinics.
She also asked whether the government will reform the existing hospitals or tie in with the implementation of the third faculty of medicine, and what specialties will be initially covered by the multi-specialty integrated out-patient clinics.
The Chief Executive, John Lee responded that healthcare was the top three of the government's expenditure inputs, accounting for about 20% of the total expenditure. With limited resources, there is a need to "enhance efficiency" in handling public healthcare services in the public sector. On the issue of multi-specialty integrated outpatient services, he cited the example that one patient may need to consult a number of specialties, but if there are specialties that can take care of other specialties, then the patient only needs to consult a single specialty. In addition, the new initiative also requires the setting up of a platform to achieve cross-specialty coordination for the purpose of patient consolidation.
Lee also mentioned that apart from the new mechanism of cross-specialty integrated out-patient services, hospitals also need to expand their capacity in order to optimize healthcare services. For example, smoother collaboration between public and private hospitals, and more convenient access to standardized healthcare services in the Greater Bay Area.
Related News:
CE: Policy Address combines community wisdom, govt strategies to build better future for HK
Comment