Our Hong Kong Foundation has urged the government to buy specialist medical services from accredited private healthcare providers on the mainland for Hong Kong residents retiring in the Greater Bay Area. The think tank says the purchases could provide another option for elderly residents with urgent medical needs who cannot afford private healthcare in Hong Kong.
The foundation reported that more than 111,000 Hong Kong residents aged 65 or above were living in Guangdong, nearly 60 per cent more than a decade earlier.
It also surveyed around 1,000 people aged 36 and above who were interested in retiring in the Greater Bay Area. Nearly half reported significant barriers to accessing specialist medical care in Guangdong. Among respondents over 50, finding appropriate care was the main hurdle, the foundation said, rather than affordability.
Suggested services include cataract surgery, knee replacements and diagnostic imaging. The foundation also proposed a care navigator network with mainland organisations, offering retirees dedicated points of contact and support.