The Hong Kong government Wednesday published the second stage public consultation document on healthcare reform, under which a government-regulated, voluntary Health Protection Scheme is proposed for a three-month public consultation.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday to release the consultation document entitled "My Health My Choice", Hong Kong's Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said, "The first stage consultation held in 2008 clearly reflected that there was a general recognition on the need for healthcare reform."

"On healthcare financing, a greater proportion of the public expressed reservations about mandatory financing options," he added.

According to the first round consultation results, members of the public preferred voluntary choice for personalized healthcare services, and expected more choices of private healthcare services according to their own means and needs, as an alternative to public healthcare services. Voluntary private health insurance was acceptable to many of them.

Given its voluntary nature, the scheme, aiming at enhancing the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system, can strengthen the protection for those who have subscribed to health insurance.

This will have a positive effect on enhancing the sustainability of private healthcare financing and the development of private healthcare services, thus relieving the burden on the public healthcare sector in the long run and benefiting those who need public services, Chow mentioned.

Chow stressed that the government will only increase, and not reduce, its commitment to healthcare when taking forward the scheme and will continue to uphold public healthcare services as the community's healthcare safety net.

"The government is increasing its funding for healthcare, from 30.5 billion HK dollars (about 3.93 billion HK dollars) in 2007-08 to 36.9 billion HK dollars in 2010-11," he said.

He noted that over 5 billion HK dollars was committed to taking forward various healthcare services reforms, which include enhancing primary care services; launching public-private partnership projects in healthcare one after another; sharing electronic health record under the first stage of the program to be implemented in 2013-14; and strengthening public healthcare safety net and expanding the coverage of the Drug Formulary.

Besides, the government invests in healthcare infrastructure and equipment and strengthens safety net with a total commitment of over 15 billion HK dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.756 HK dollars)

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