Libby Lee says HA handles over 1,000 daily inquiries concerning fee waivers
發佈日期: 2025-11-09 20:14
TVB News
New public hospital service fees will take effect on New Year's Day.
During an exclusive interview with TVB News, Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority Libby Lee said they have been handling over 1,000 inquiries per day concerning fee waivers recently.
Under the public healthcare fee revamp, A&E departments at public hospitals will charge a standard fee of 400 dollars, except for "urgent" and "semi-urgent" patients.
This is in addition to a fee hike for most of the subsidised medical services.
Residents facing financial hardship when settling the charges can apply for full or partial fee waivers.
Speaking with TVB News, Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority Libby Lee noted that at least 100 residents have applied for a fee exemption so far.
With the fees reform just less than two months away, she said the government is studying further support measures, such as adjusting daytime and nighttime appointment slots for the general out-patient clinics.
Currently, around one-third of the clinics open until 10 p.m.
She hopes to add more evening booking slots so as to facilitate patients who want to see a doctor after work.
Meanwhile, health officials just annouced an extension of free storage period for bodies in public hospitals' mortuaries, after a backlash from the public and stakeholders.
Lee made it clear that the purpose of the mortuary charge was not intended to generate revenue for the government.
Lee said, "our aim is to shorten the stays for the deceased body in our hospital authority mortuary, to facilitate that. It is both for the thinking for the deceased body, for the respect, and also for the family and friends, for them how to manage the death of their beloved ones. So this is why we are thinking about that."
