Public healthcare fee hike to take effect on 1 January 2026

The $400 A&E fee and regularised refund arrangements will also take effect.

The Hospital Authority has confirmed that the updated fee schedule for public hospital services will come into effect on 1 January 2026, following its publication in the Government Gazette.

Since announcing the “Public Healthcare Fees & Charges Reform” in March, the Health Bureau and the authority have been engaging with the Legislative Council, the public, and other stakeholders to explain the changes and collect feedback.

They have found a consensus that the current public healthcare subsidisation structure cannot cope with increasing service demands driven by demographic changes and healthcare developments.

In light of these realities, modifications to patterns of healthcare service utilisation, more precise allocation of medical resources, and reduced wastage and misuse of medical resources are deemed necessary.

Besides restructuring subsidisation levels for various services, the reforms seek to enhance the medical fee waiver mechanism, introduce a cap on annual spending, and strengthen protection for patients with critical illnesses concerning drugs and medical devices.

As such, public healthcare will be reinforced as a safety net for all, and it is expected that the enhanced medical fee-waiving mechanism will expand the number of eligible beneficiaries from 0.3 million to 1.4 million underprivileged individuals, whilst the annual spending cap will benefit 70,000 patients with serious illnesses.

The Hospital Authority’s next steps are to refine implementation measures to ensure the reforms’ smooth execution. This includes streamlining application procedures for medical fee waivers and relaxing the eligibility criteria under means testing for the Samaritan Fund safety net.

The authority will launch a means test calculator on its website and a mobile application, “HA Go,” on 28 April. By inputting information about household income and assets, patients can make a preliminary estimation of their eligibility for medical fee waivers and safety net applications under the new healthcare protection measures.

Additionally, starting from 1 January, when the new $400 Accident & Emergency fee takes effect, the special A&E refund arrangements will also be regularised.

Patients who, after triage and an initial assessment by nurses, decide to seek treatment elsewhere can apply for a $350 refund whilst waiting for consultation.