Solution call: Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow calls for new thinking on medical financing on a radio show.

New thinking is needed to resolve the medical resources problem as the situation will worsen if Hong Kong's healthcare system does not change amid the ageing population, Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow says.

On a radio programme today Dr Chow noted while the Government has been increasing healthcare resources it still cannot meet the community's needs or improve the public-private medical sector imbalance.

With the healthcare reform consultation the Government hopes the public can learn the relation between services and financing, and the pros and cons of various proposals, he said.

Dr Chow said as the community has reservations about proposals of pure savings or pure insurance, the Government has forwarded a new option combining the two for public consideration. Foreign experience shows the return rate can be raised if the insured population is enlarged.

The Government will study the best mode of regulation if such an option is preferred, including forming an organisation with Government, service sector and patient representatives as adopted by Switzerland.

Dr Chow said the Government is open to all views. He reiterated the safety net will remain to serve the underprivileged and those with chronic illness, and no one will be deprived of medical services due to financial problems.