Hong Kongers have increasingly traveled to Guangdong province, specifically Shenzhen, for medical care, adding to a list of reasons that traditionally included cheaper luxuries such as dining and shopping. [para. 1]. Despite Hong Kong’s high medical standards and world-leading life expectancy (80.7 years for men and 86.8 years for women) [para. 2]residents choose medical services on the mainland [para. 3].
Shenzhen has seen a rise in cross-border medical tourism from Hong Kong, with local hospitals such as HKU-SZH reporting significant outpatient visits for non-emergency services such as cosmetic procedures, dentistry, ophthalmology and traditional Chinese medicine. For example, HKU-SZH recorded 40,493 outpatient visits from Hong Kong residents in the first quarter of this year. [para. 4][para. 5][para. 6]. Dr. Yu Sze Yuen of HKU-SZH notes that many patients in Hong Kong visit general practitioners who deal with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. [para. 7].
The main advantages are affordability and fast service on the mainland. For example, Wang Yuan, a 70-year-old resident of Hong Kong, reported significant savings on reading glasses and dental services in Shenzhen compared to Hong Kong. [para. 8][para. 9][para. 10]. Routine surgeries also tend to be cheaper; knee replacement surgery costs about HK$27,000 in Shenzhen, while it costs more than HK$100,000 in a private hospital in Hong Kong [para. 11]. In addition, traditional Chinese medicine, which is highly sought after by Hong Kong residents, is much cheaper on the mainland [para. 12].
Even for serious conditions like cancer, the continent offers more affordable innovative treatments. Prices of drugs such as Pfizer’s Lorlatinib for lung cancer have fallen significantly due to government negotiations, making them more affordable for patients [para. 13][para. 14][para. 15]. However, the majority of Hong Kong’s population still seeks local medical care, with only a small proportion crossing the border for treatment. [para. 16][para. 17].
Hong Kong’s dual-track healthcare system combines the public safety net with the private sector to provide first-class and expedited services. The public system is under pressure due to high demand and staff shortages; the minimum waiting time for specialist consultations is often 10 weeks [para. 20][para. 21][para. 22]. As an aging population increases pressure on the system, more residents are finding mainland medical services an attractive alternative [para. 23].
The Hong Kong government also encourages cross-border medical care. The Greater Bay Area Senior Health Voucher (EHCV) pilot program now allows residents 65 and older to use their vouchers at designated mainland hospitals and clinics, facilitating more than 160,000 visits since 2015. [para. 24][para. 25].
To combat the high costs of Hong Kong, many residents are exploring mainland health insurance options. These include basic employee and urban/rural basic health insurance plans with flexible job categories accessed with a Mainland Residence Card [para. 26][para. 27]. For example, Lin Yi, a resident of Hong Kong, has maintained his mainland insurance even after moving back to Hong Kong, taking advantage of the favorable reimbursement rates. [para. 28][para. 29][para. 30].
This trend towards using mainland medical services reflects a cost-effective and faster alternative for many Hong Kong residents, driven by both individual initiative and government policy. [para. 18][para. 19][para. 31].
AI generated, for reference only
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