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ARTICLE

Price Increases in Public Healthcare Services: How to Protect Yourself?

3-min read

Updated on 2026-3-31

Author: AIA Content Editorial Team

The Health Bureau has announced a reform of public healthcare service fees aimed at optimizing resource allocation. Under the new structure, Accident and Emergency (A&E) charges adjusted to HK$400, though patients categorized as "critical" or "emergency" can exempted from this increase. Additionally, the daily maintenance fee for acute beds are adjusted to HK$300.Regarding diagnostic services, previously free non-emergency radiology and pathology services now incur charges ranging from HK$50 to HK$500. For instance, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) subject to a fee of HK$500¹.

The purpose of increasing fees in public hospitals is to ensure the optimal use of public healthcare resources, encourage prudent usage, and avoid wastage, while ensuring that citizens bear a reasonable co-payment.

The Health Bureau stated that Hong Kong's healthcare system is facing significant challenges. An aging population has led to a continuous rise in demand, and medical advancements mean that diseases previously considered untreatable can now be managed. However, many advanced new drugs, medical devices, and treatments have caused medical costs to climb steadily. During the research process for these reforms, the Hospital Authority summarized the imbalances currently faced by the public healthcare system².

Price Increases in Public Healthcare Services: How to Protect Yourself?

In light of the aforementioned imbalances in the public healthcare system, the government has launched the Public Medical Service Fee Reform. However, the most realistic problem we face is that the cost of seeking treatment at public hospitals is rising; combined with the fact that if public hospital issues are not improved in a timely manner, people may turn to private hospital services instead.

Media reports state that Mr. Cheung, a citizen, expressed that HK$400 for the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department is somewhat expensive. Another citizen, Mr. Poon, said that after the price increase, he would choose to seek treatment at a private hospital because the waiting time is shorter³. Do you agree with Mr. Poon's view? To receive appropriate treatment in a timely manner, one must certainly know how to protect oneself!

A Legislative Council member cited a specific private hospital's A&E department as an example, where the fee at midnight is approximately HK$1,000 to HK$1,500. She believes the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) could cover more non-hospitalization expenses. For instance, after spreading the cost through premiums, if the insured person only needs to pay HK$300 to go to a private hospital's A&E, it would help divert citizens toward using private services⁴.

AIA is committed to providing you with superior protection and services. To learn more about AIA VHIS plans, please visit: https://www.aia.com.hk/en/products/health/voluntary-health-insurance-scheme

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