In the Health Care Reform Consultation Document published in December 2000, one of the strategic directions on health care financing was to revamp the fee structure of Hong Kong's public health care sector, so that the public subsidies could be targeted to areas of most need and inappropriate use and misuse of services could be reduced.

    Following a comprehensive review to examine how the relative priorities of services provided may be reflected in the subsidy level and how inappropriate use and misuse of services can be minimised, the Administration announced its decision to revamp the fee structure of the public health care system in November. Except for the new charge for accident and emergency service (which took effect from November 29), all revised charges will take effect from April 1, 2003, after a moratorium on public fees and charges. Following the fee restructuring, charges would continue to be affordable but should also be effective in influencing patient behaviour. Overall, even at the revised fee level, the government subsidy still represents a high level of 96 per cent of costs.

    It has always been the Government's fundamental philosophy that no one will be denied adequate medical care due to lack of means. To assist the vulnerable groups in the community, including low income earners, the chronically ill and the elderly, the existing medical fee waiver mechanism would be enhanced in parallel in order to provide effective protection to them.