The number of patients visiting the Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E) at Hong Kong’s public hospitals has dropped after authorities more than doubled the fees from HK$180 to HK$400 for low-priority cases in a bid to curb misuse.
The Hospital Authority (HA) said on Thursday night that, in the week following the implementation of the sweeping fee reform on January 1, a total of 32,147 patients attended the 18 A&Es in Hong Kong’s public hospitals, with a daily average of 4,592.
The figure represents an 11.8 per cent decrease from the 2025 daily average of 5,210 attendance, the HA said in a statement.
Under the fee reform, the new HK$400 charge only applies to patients classified as “urgent,” “semi-urgent,” or “non-urgent,” per the HA’s five-tier triage system. Those categorised as “critical” or “emergency” are treated free of charge.
Following the reform, “critical,” “emergency,” and “urgent” cases accounted for a larger proportion of A&E attendances, while “semi-urgent” and “non-urgent” cases dropped, according to the HA.
Semi-urgent or non-urgent cases stood at 2,323 – or 50.6 per cent – a day, compared with 2,826 – or 54.2 per cent – a day throughout last year.
Meanwhile, critical and emergency cases made up 5.6 per cent – or 258 cases on an average day – after the new charges kicked in, up from 4.4 per cent, or a daily average of 228 cases, in 2025.
Urgent cases numbered at a daily average of 2,011 – or 43.8 per cent – in the first week following the new charges, compared with 2,156 – or 41.4 per cent – in 2025.
The HA said the figures showed the fee reform had “yielded initial results,” adding that patients had been given more timely medical attention.
“All critical and emergency patients arriving at A&Es have been able to receive immediate treatment from healthcare staff. The vast majority of emergency patients received treatment within 15 minutes of arrival,” according to the statement.
All A&Es have been operating smoothly, the HA said, adding that some semi-urgent and non-urgent patients may experience longer waiting time due to the increased volume of critical cases.
The HA urged patients with minor conditions to avoid using emergency services at public hospitals.
The new measures, first announced in March, aim to promote the sustainability of the city’s public healthcare system to cope with challenges posed by an ageing population.
Fees for using general outpatient clinics have tripled from HK$50 per visit to HK$150, while charges for specialist outpatient clinics have nearly doubled, from HK$135 to HK$250.
An inpatient bed, previously HK$120 per day, has new daily rates ranging between HK$200 and HK$300 depending on the type of treatment.
Community nursing, basic pathology, and basic non-urgent radiology services remain free. Visits to psychiatric day hospitals, which were HK$60, have also become free of charge.
Original source: hk