The Secretary for Food and Health, Chen Zhaoshi, said in an interview with "Hong Kong 01" that after the Kwai Tsing Regional Health Center was put into service two years ago, the Sham Shui Po District Health Center had also been opened and put into service last month, cooperating with 11 district health stations. It is expected that the goal of having regional health facilities will be achieved during the term of the current government.
At the same time, she also revealed that the government will review the "Elderly Health Care Voucher" program and study how to "standardize" it. There is an opportunity to start from the regional health centers and use medical staff to make health assessments for the elderly, and then "tailor-made" them. Provide a plan to use medical vouchers, hoping to improve the health of the elderly in a more targeted manner.
Chen Zhaoshi revealed that the government will review the "Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme" and study "standardization". First, the medical staff of the district health center will conduct health assessments for the elderly, and then "tailor-made" plans to use the health care vouchers will be provided.
(Photo by Liao Yanxiong)
The potential value of medical vouchers needs to be exploited
The original intent of the medical voucher is to serve as a medical policy for the elderly, allowing them to pay for related services after receiving medical services in person. At the same time, it also has the nature of a poverty alleviation policy. It can take care of the elderly who fail to pay for their daily medical expenses and prevent them from financial conditions. Without permission and unable to obtain appropriate medical services.
However, in addition to paying for medical services, the medical voucher system should be used to further promote the awareness that "prevention is better than cure", so that its potential value can be fully realized.
The Census and Statistics Department estimates that the proportion of elderly persons aged 65 and above will increase from 17% in 2016 to 31% in 2036, and further rise to 37% in 2066. This shows that Hong Kong’s population is rapidly aging in recent years. The mentality of "emphasis on treatment and neglect of prevention" will naturally cause greater burdens on the entire medical system in the future under the attack of the two problems.
If medical vouchers can be used to cooperate with health prevention, they can actually relieve the medical pressure in Hong Kong to a certain extent.
According to Chen Zhaoshi, official medical staff can advise the elderly on the use of medical vouchers and teach them that disease prevention should be the first priority.
"Standardization" is essential
On the other hand, although the current medical vouchers cannot be used for pure purchase of goods, exchange for cash, transfer to others, or sharing with others, abuse cases still occur from time to time.
Lian Weiqiao, director of the Community Organization Association, once said that the abuse of medical vouchers is serious. Some pharmacies and drug store employees are suspected of claiming to the elderly that they can redeem the medical vouchers with a 50% and 40% discount. In addition, the single-time TCM treatment costs for the elderly are as high as 4000 yuan or even The situation of selling expensive medicines.
This shows that "standardized" medical vouchers are indeed necessary and urgent.
Reluctantly, the government has not yet seen a specific plan for the so-called "standardization" of medical vouchers. In particular, improper supervision of merchants seems to be relatively lax. From past experience, the authorities should actually consider using outsourcing to recruit elders as mystery customers. The method regularly monitors whether there is any abuse of medical vouchers in the market, and even special regulations can be formulated for medical vouchers to strengthen deterrence.
Policy Address on the Poverty of the Elderly Brought by the Expansion of Medical Vouchers and Shortening the Waiting Time of RMB 200 Gift Vouchers｜Social Security Cannot Stop at Increasing Welfare Funds
