Measures For Healthcare Services Set

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the 2019-20 Budget will provide short and medium-term measures to improve Hong Kong’s healthcare services.

Speaking to the media after attending a radio show today, Mr Chan said the Government will utilise a total sum of $16.1 billion to improve public hospital services.

He said: “The $10 billion is a stabilisation fund which can be deployed whenever the Hospital Authority finds it necessary.

“The rest, about $700 million, is to improve the allowances for medical doctors, nurses and also the remuneration of supporting staff at the Hospital Authority.”

Another $5 billion will help the authority upgrade its medical equipment and acquire advanced medical devices for treating cancer and other diseases requiring specialty services, he added.

An additional recurrent subvention of $400 million will also expand the scope of drugs subsided by the Government.

“All in all, these are short-term and medium-term measures to help improve the services of the medical sector,” he said.