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Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. The standards of healthcare and medicine are extremely high in Hong Kong. But, it has not been able to establish itself as a popular center for medical tourism due to the high costs of medical treatment here. The doctors in Hong Kong hospitals are well-qualified and many of them hold western degrees also. The health indices in Hong Kong are better when compared to the health indices in western countries. For example, the infant mortality rate is steadily declining every year and reached 2.3 per thousand live births in the year 2003. Also, in 2003, the average life expectancy for men was 78.6 and for women was 84.3. These health indices give a true picture of the extremely advanced and efficient healthcare standards in Hong Kong. Hospitals in Hong Kong are run either by the government or by the private sector. Though the private sector hospitals play in a major role in primary care in Hong Kong, for secondary and tertiary care, the public sector is the main provider of healthcare. The public sector hospitals are managed by the Hospital Authority (HA). The HA runs 43 hospitals in Hong Kong with 20,550 beds. The private sector runs 12 hospitals in Hong Kong with a total of 2,853 beds. The public sector hospitals provide highly subsidized health care to the public. The public sector covers half of the primary health services and a huge percentage of secondary and tertiary care. The rates of subsidy provided by the public sector hospitals is 97 percent for in-patient care and 87 percent for out-patient care. The medical care provided in the public sector hospitals is of an extremely high standard and many people prefer going to public hospitals, rather than private hospitals.
Hong Kong has been the chosen destination for medical tourists for many years, but recently the lower treatment costs in other countries like India and Thailand are making people opt for these destinations to get treatment. The fees in Hong Kong are relatively high compared to these destinations. Although, recently the Hong Kong government is thinking about marketing its Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the region. According to Dr. Chu Kin Wah, Vice-President of the Hong Kong Medical Association, with the highest medical standards in the East Asian region, Hong Kong is ideal for medical tourism. Patients from the Chinese mainland are increasingly visiting hospitals in Hong Kong for treatment. According to him, this can be pushed further to accommodate patients from other Asian, American, European, and Far East countries by encouraging advertising and by relaxing immigration rules. According to him, the Hong Kong government is supportive of medical tourism and Hong Kong will benefit from increasing medical tourism. For treatment of acute illnesses and injuries, the Hong Kong residents and visitors are given equal treatment in the public hospitals of Hong Kong. Though, for other illnesses, the rates of treatment for visitors and residents vary in public hospitals. Patients who are not residents of Hong Kong are charged at a higher rate.
To obtain a visa to Hong Kong, you need to contact the Chinese embassy or consular mission in your country. People having a close relation with Hong Kong SAR by birth or by a long period of residence there, may not need a visa. Residents of certain countries can enter and stay in Hong Kong for a period upto 90 days without a visa or entry permit. For example, citizens of USA, Norway, and New Zealand can stay for 90 days in Hong Kong without a visa. Citizens of UK can stay for upto 180 days in Hong Kong without a visa. Citizens of some other countries require a visa to enter into Hong Kong. For stays beyond 90 days, residents of USA, Norway, and New Zealand must apply for a visa or entry permit before traveling to Hong Kong SAR. To find the complete information about visa rules in Hong Kong, click here. Immigration Department, Government of Hong Kong
To book rooms in Hong Kong hotels online, click here.
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