How can retirees beat rising healthcare costs in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong has long relied on both public and private hospitals and clinics, but medical inflation is pricing out elderly patients
In the fourth of a five-part Health Matters wellness series on ageing in Hong Kong, Victor Ting looks at how rising healthcare costs and growing cross-border treatment options are reshaping patients’ choices, as experts warn the city must reform to keep care affordable.
Retiree Philip Kong says he realised Hong Kong’s healthcare system needed a wake-up call when he discovered that receiving treatment for his prostate condition in neighbouring Shenzhen could potentially cut his medical bill by nearly 90 per cent.
The 75-year-old was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate earlier this year and set to pay HK$210,000 (US$26,780) for a scheduled surgery at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital – until a family friend, who is a urologist, suggested another option.
The alternative? The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital – a 2,000-bed clinical, teaching and research facility in Futian that opened in 2012 – offered a full examination, including blood and urine tests, for about HK$300 and an extra HK$20,000 for the standard inpatient procedure.
In the end, Kong opted not to go for the larger discount and paid for the “deluxe” HK$60,000 package. It included a private room with a sea view and meant the operation was performed by three “professor-grade” specialists.
“It is a fraction of the cost, and treats you like a king,” Kong said after making an initial trip to the hospital to explore his options.
