The pressure on specialist outpatient clinics in Hong Kong’s public medical system is increasing day by day, and the waiting time for some specialist treatments is measured in years. In the past six months, due to the need to concentrate resources to respond to the epidemic, some non-urgent treatments have to be postponed, and the waiting time for some specialist treatments has been lengthened. In fact, for some minor treatments, members of the public can choose to receive treatment in day medical centres.
Day procedure centresare very common in European and American countries, and have become increasingly popular in Asian countries in recent years. Day medical centers usually refer to minor treatments such asendoscopyor cataract removal, which are performed by specialists in hospitals or clinics and provide safe and effective treatments to patients in accordance with the codes and guidelines prescribed by the government. During the process, patients do not need to be hospitalized and can go home to rest or carry out other schedules as needed, making time allocation more convenient and flexible. With the advancement of the times and technology, ambulatory medical centers not only have professional specialists and dedicated medical teams, but also have modern and well-equipped treatment rooms, and their facilities are comparable to the quality of hospitals. In terms of cost, since general day medical centers do not charge hospitalization fees and related miscellaneous fees, the overall cost is usually lower than that of private hospitals that require hospitalization, allowing the public to have more budget.
The gradual popularization of ambulatory medical center services will not only help reduce the pressure on the public medical system, but also speed up treatment and save patients from suffering. In recent years, many medical plans have compensated for the costs of ambulatory medical centres. Even the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme implemented by the government covers treatments performed in hospital day clinics and clinics. Citizens in need can contact their own specialist to obtain appropriate treatment as soon as possible.
Source: Headline daily
