The Health Bureau plans to require licensed private medical institutions to publish price information and private hospitals to give patients estimates for nearly 500 specified treatments and procedures. The proposals were discussed by the Legislative Council’s Health Services Panel on 23 October.
Price lists would cover items specified by the government and be provided in Chinese and English. Hospitals would also have to explain in writing when final charges exceed an estimate by 20% or more.
A legislator questioned whether the penalties would deter larger, more profitable private hospitals. Under the proposal, private hospitals could face maximum fines of HK$100,000 for breaches, while day medical centres and clinics could face up to HK$25,000. Secretary for Health Chung-mau Lo said a fine could be issued for each case, so repeated penalties at larger hospitals could accumulate to a substantial sum.
A legislator questioned whether listing each chargeable medicine by dosage, colour, size and brand would help patients make choices. Chung-mau Lo said patients would not need to review every item and could discuss options with their doctors, while stressing the importance of informed choice.
Chung-mau Lo said the government had no current plan to regulate private providers’ fee levels. He described greater price transparency as a way to give patients more choice.
The bureau plans to submit the subsidiary legislation to the Legislative Council by the end of 2026. The government plans to phase in the measures from the second half of 2027.