The Government will spend $200 billion in next 10 years to provide an additional 5,000 public hospital beds and more than 90 operating theatres, and strengthen ambulatory services.
Delivering his 2016 Policy Address today, Chief Executive CY Leung said an ageing population puts tremendous pressure on healthcare services.
The hospital development plan for the coming decade also includes stage-two construction of the acute general hospital in the Kai Tak Development Area, and redevelopment or expansion projects for the Tuen Mun Hospital Operating Theatre Block, Haven of Hope Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, Kwai Chung Hospital, North District Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital Lai King Building, Grantham Hospital and Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital.
The Hospital Authority will plan constructing ambulatory care centres and large day hospitals, which will provide more facilities for day surgery, rehabilitation, endoscopy, diagnostic radiology and laboratory services.
The scope of the Government Vaccination Programme and the Vaccination Subsidy Schemes will be expanded in 2015-16 to cover people with intellectual disabilities and elderly people aged 65 or above. The measures will be regularised in 2016-17.
The Government will also invite the Community Care Fund to consider a pilot scheme for providing girls in financial need with free cervical cancer vaccinations.
To maintain quality healthcare services and to ensure its sustainable development, Mr Leung said the Government will increase publicly-funded degree places in medicine, dentistry and other healthcare disciplines by 50, 20 and 68 in the next three years.
The Government will legislate to increase the Medical Council by four lay members to improve its complaint and discipline mechanisms.
Mr Leung also noted that Hong Kong is well prepared to further the development of Chinese medicine, and the Government has reserved a site in Tseung Kwan O to develop a Chinese medicine hospital.
