Health & Community
Birth quota may be lowered
February 08, 2012
The birth quota for non-local pregnant women may be reduced or even removed next year, Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow told lawmakers today.Speaking in the Legislative Council, Dr Chow said the Government could further reduce or cancel all the quotas when necessary, subject to local women's demand for obstetric services.
He said the Hospital Authority is reviewing the number of delivery places for non-local pregnant women in 2013 and the quota will be announced in April this year.
He later told the media the number of Mainland women giving birth in accident and emergency wards at public hospitals has dropped 20%. In the past six months there have been 30 to 40 cases a week of non-local mothers making last-minute deliveries but the daily figure has decreased to single digits in the past three weeks.