The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today announced that the “Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area” will be extended for a year, and will include designated hospitals in Zhuhai and Nansha from November 9.

The scheme will be extended to Zhuhai People’s Hospital and the Nansha Division of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said the scheme’s extension will enhance medical collaboration in the Greater Bay Area, offering patients safer, more timely and convenient transfer arrangements.

The Hong Kong SAR Government, in collaboration with the People’s Government of Zhuhai Municipality and the Nansha District People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality, conducted drills in September and October simulating cross-boundary patient transfers.

The scheme was launched on November 30 last year, and its first phase involved implementing direct cross-boundary ambulance transfers of patients from designated hospitals in Shenzhen and Macau to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong.

As of early this month, a total of 17 patients, including 11 from Shenzhen and six from Macau, had been successfully transferred to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong for treatment.

In light of the scheme’s smooth implementation to date, it has been extended until November 29 next year.