The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, in collaboration with the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Shenzhen Municipal Government and the Macao SAR Government, will launch the one-year Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) tomorrow.

The first phase of the scheme will start with the direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer of patients from designated sending hospitals in Shenzhen at the University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital and in Macau at the Conde S. Januario Hospital to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong.

Upon assessment and agreement by the teams of designated cross-boundary collaborating hospitals, arrangements can be made for patients with specific clinical needs and suitable clinical conditions to be transferred directly to Hong Kong between designated hospitals in a point-to-point mode without the handover of patients between ambulances at boundary control points, thereby minimising risks posed to the patients during transfer.

As medical conditions and needs vary among patients, doctors at the sending hospital will assess, on a case-by-case basis, the need for the patient to undergo cross-boundary inter-hospital transfer for continuous treatment or recovery services, taking into consideration the patient's clinical diagnosis and his/her conditions.

The doctors at the sending hospital will communicate with the Major Incident Control Centre of the Hospital Authority for joint assessment, information exchange and co-ordination with the receiving hospital to decide whether the transfer mechanism should be activated.

The sending and receiving hospitals will also ensure the patient's relatives and the patient have given consent to the arrangements and are informed of the risks involved in the transfer.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said that the study on the land-based cross-boundary transfer for non-emergency and non-critically ill patients and the exploration of a pilot co-operation scheme for cross-boundary referral of patients between designated public hospitals were put forward in the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA.

Last year’s Policy Address also put forward the initiative to explore cross-boundary ambulance transfer arrangements between hospitals in the GBA, he added.

The health chief noted that under the staunch support and guidance of various national ministries as well as concerted efforts of the government departments of Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau, the pilot scheme is set for official launch.

“This marks a new height in high-quality medical collaboration and development in the GBA while addressing the earnest anticipation of residents in the bay area.

“The Hong Kong SAR Government will deepen healthcare collaboration with other GBA cities to further boost healthcare integration within the bay area, thereby building a healthy bay area through joint endeavours and starting a new chapter for high-quality development in the GBA.”

Subject to the effectiveness and operational experience of the pilot scheme, governments of the three places will consider the expansion of the scheme in the next phase.