Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow says the Hospital Authority has waived $1.03 billion in medical fees and charges since April 2003.

Dr Chow told lawmakers today medical social workers are given clear guidelines for the assessment of waiver applications. All Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients are given waivers for their medical fees and charges at public hospitals and clinics. 

For non-CSSA recipients, the guidelines provide for a set of assessment criteria, financial and non-financial. Applicants who satisfy both the income and asset criteria are eligible for a waiver.

Applicants who do not may still apply, and medical social workers will assess their applications taking into account the non-financial criteria and the special needs of the elderly and patients with chronic illness.

Endorsement procedures

The head of the medical social workers team in each public hospital is responsible for ensuring medical social workers comply with the assessment guidelines through, for example, regular reviews of case records.

The head of the medical social workers team must endorse waiver applications over $7,000, and the Hospital Chief Executive must approve them.  

Applicants may appeal to the hospital against medical social workers' decision. If an applicant is not satisfied with the decision, he or she may appeal to the Hospital Authority's Public Complaints Committe.