Public Hospitals
One week after Hong Kong's public hospitals introduced a new A&E pricing regime on January 1, visits fell 11.9% to 32,147 patients across 18 departments compared to last year, while fee waivers tripled. A Hospital Authority spokesman said the changes enable better focus on true emergencies.
Reported by AI
Nine patients in Hong Kong avoided higher emergency fees when new hospital charges took effect on New Year's Day. Hospital Authority chief executive Libby Lee reported a smooth rollout. The changes target sustainability for the taxpayer-subsidized public healthcare system.