The Hospital Authority (HA) announced that the public healthcare fees and charges reform officially came into effect today, with Accident & Emergency departments, which operate 24 hours a day, among the first clinical departments to implement the new fees and charges arrangements.

The HA noted that its systems have successfully switched to the new fees and charges mode, and operations at public hospitals were smooth. 

The authority added that it has deployed additional manpower to station at outpatient clinics, shroffs and pharmacies for answering patient enquiries, assisting with payments, appointments, and applications for medical fee waivers.

Hospitals and specialist outpatient clinics have also set up information counters where dedicated staff provide on-site responses to public enquiries.

An enhanced medical fee waiver mechanism has been introduced. Over 50,000 patients have already submitted advance applications or filed enquiries, with the majority of applications processed.

The HA said eligible patients will gradually receive their medical fee waiver certificates, enabling them to have fee waivers granted at their next follow-up consultation. 

It has also introduced an annual cap of $10,000 on medical service charges, excluding self-financed items.

The expanded safety net aims to help citizens reduce the heavy financial burden of medical expenses arising from unexpected serious illnesses or chronic conditions, the HA added.