22nd August 2026 – (Hong Kong) Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau said on 22nd August that the government aims to lower the public healthcare subsidy level to 90 per cent within five years, stressing that those with greater means should contribute more while maintaining robust protection for patients in need. Speaking on a commercial radio programme, he noted that after more than eight months of fee reform, subsidies currently cover about 95 per cent of costs, down from 97.6 per cent previously, leaving patients to bear roughly 5 per cent.
Lo argued that the previous arrangement, under which the government shouldered 97.6 units of cost for every 2.4 units paid by patients, was no longer sustainable amid medical advances and an ageing population. The direction of reform, he said, is “ability to pay”, with the initial objective that those who can afford it shoulder 5 units while the government still covers 95 units, before moving towards a still‑high 90 per cent subsidy over the next five years.
He added that full fee waivers have been significantly expanded to safeguard access to care, with the number of people exempted rising from about 14,000 to around 280,000. Lo reiterated that no patient should be denied treatment for financial reasons and that the principle of asking the better‑off to contribute a little more will guide further adjustments.
