reform must go ahead, says Chow
The government will not "give up easily" on its controversial health-care reforms and will make a decision in due course, the health minister says.
Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said it was encouraging that the bureau had received more than 200 e-mails during the first week of the three-month public consultation.
"Whatever the voices are, it is a good sign that we have raised a discussion in the community," he said.
The Food and Health Bureau released a consultation document called "Your Health, Your Life" on March 13 that listed six financing options for health care. It also proposed a new primary-care structure, such as setting up a family doctor register and closer co-operation between the public and private sectors.
Among the six options is a Personal Healthcare Reserve scheme that would require the working population to save 3 to 5 per cent of their salaries and use part of the money to buy mandatory medical insurance.
But lawmakers and patients' groups have strongly criticised the scheme as double taxation on the middle class.
Asked whether health-care reform would experience the same fate as sales tax - shelved because of a lack of consensus - Dr Chow said it would be irresponsible for the government to defer this "urgent agenda" until its next term.
The latest document is the fourth consultation paper on health-care reform submitted to the public in 15 years. Three bore no fruit.
"We will not give up easily," Dr Chow said. "In due course, we will make a decision for the community. We do not have a preferred option and we want the community to participate in the discussion."
He said the proposed mandatory savings scheme would be beneficial to the middle class, which "is now paying most of the HK$6 billion to HK$8 billion health care expenditure. If we do nothing now, they will have to pay even more tax as medical costs rise".
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