Hong Kong residents have traveled to Guangdong province, particularly Shenzhen, for medical treatment, adding to a list of reasons that traditionally include 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]citizens who are opting for medical services in the mainland [para. 3].
Shenzhen has seen a surge 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 from HKU-SZH said that many Hong Kong patients come for general practice services dealing with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. [para. 7].
The affordability and fast service in the mainland are the main draws. For example, Wang Yuan, a 70-year-old Hong Konger, reported significant savings on reading glasses and dental services in Shenzhen compared to Hong Kong. [para. 8][para. 9][para. 10]. Routine surgery also tends to be cheaper; Knee replacement surgery costs around HK$27,000 in Shenzhen compared to over HK$100,000 in Hong Kong private hospitals. [para. 11]. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine, much sought after by Hong Kong residents, is available at a lower cost on the mainland [para. 12].
Even for severe medical conditions like cancer, the mainland offers more affordable innovative treatments. Drugs such as Pfizer’s Lorlatinib for lung cancer have seen significant price reductions due to government negotiations, making them more accessible to patients. [para. 13][para. 14][para. 15]. However, the majority of Hong Kong’s population still seeks medical care locally, with only a small proportion crossing the border for treatment. [para. 16][para. 17].
Hong Kong’s dual-track health care system combines the public and private sector safety nets for premium and speedy services. The public system is under strain due to high demand and lack of staff; specialist consultation often has a minimum waiting period of 10 weeks [para. 20][para. 21][para. 22]. As an aging population increases pressure on the system, more residents are finding alternative mainland medical services appealing [para. 23].
The Hong Kong government also encourages cross-border medical care. The Elderly Health Care Voucher (EHCV) Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme now allows residents aged 65 and over to use vouchers at designated mainland hospitals and clinics, facilitating more than 160,000 visits since 2015. [para. 24][para. 25].
To combat the high costs in Hong Kong, many residents are exploring mainland medical insurance options. This includes a basic medical insurance plan for employees and urban-rural residents, with flexible job categories accessible with a mainland residence card. [para. 26][para. 27]. For example, Lin Yi, a Hong Konger, has maintained his mainland insurance even after relocating to Hong Kong, taking advantage of the favorable reimbursement rates. [para. 28][para. 29][para. 30].
This trend of utilizing mainland medical services represents a cheaper and faster alternative for many Hong Kong residents, driven by individual initiative and government policy encouragement. [para. 18][para. 19][para. 31].
AI generated, for reference only
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