21st December 2025 – (Hong Kong) The Hospital Authority (HA) has moved to reassure the public over upcoming changes to public healthcare fees, stressing that existing full fee waivers will remain intact and that significantly more low‑income residents will become eligible for financial assistance.
In a statement issued today, the HA responded to a survey by the Society for Community Organisation on family medicine and primary healthcare consultations. The Authority noted that more than 60 per cent of respondents were recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or Old Age Living Allowance (OALA), and that many expressed concern that the reform of public healthcare fees and charges could deter them from seeking medical care.
The HA underlined that the reforms, which take effect on 1st January next year, will not affect the current group of around 600,000 people entitled to full fee waivers. This group includes CSSA recipients, OALA recipients aged 75 or above, and holders of Residential Care Service Vouchers at co‑payment Level 0. Their waivers will continue automatically once the new charging arrangements are implemented.
The Authority further highlighted that a core element of the reform is the expansion of the existing medical fee waiver mechanism. The number of eligible beneficiaries outside the three major social welfare schemes will rise from about 300,000 to 1.4 million – an increase of roughly 1.1 million people. In total, close to 2 million residents are expected to benefit after the changes take effect.
Explaining the role of Family Medicine Clinics (FMCs), the HA said these clinics mainly serve two groups of patients: those with stable chronic illnesses such as diabetes, and those with mild, short‑term conditions such as the common cold. Chronic disease patients are given follow‑up appointments directly by the clinic after each consultation and do not need to make their own bookings. Patients with episodic illnesses can schedule appointments for morning, afternoon or evening sessions within the following 24 hours by telephone or via the “HA Go” mobile application. The system operates 24 hours a day and updates available timeslots in real time, including those freed up by cancellations.
Positioning FMCs as a safety net for vulnerable groups, the HA said it had aligned their functions with the Government’s Primary Healthcare Blueprint, with a focus on comprehensive preventive services for low‑income families and disadvantaged older people. Consultation time is adjusted according to each patient’s clinical needs.
To handle growing demand, the Authority is continuing to expand capacity. New family medicine clinics in the North District and Tseung Kwan O South are scheduled to commence services in 2024 and 2025 respectively. The number of clinics providing services on holidays has been increased to 15 in 2025, and the HA plans to further raise consultation quotas and explore extended service hours in 2026–27.
Separately, the Government launched the “Family Medicine Out‑patient Priority Groups Pilot Scheme” in November 2025. The initiative covers designated priority groups, including people aged 65 or above, CSSA recipients and Working Family Allowance beneficiaries. Around 800,000 individuals within these categories are now able to make priority bookings for consultations for episodic illnesses at family medicine clinics.