Future plan: Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow tells the media the Government plans to launch the second-stage healthcare reform consultation next year.

The first-stage healthcare reform consultation has concluded, with more than 4,300 submissions received.

Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow said the views will help the Government devise more concrete proposals for discussion in the second-stage consultation next year.

He told the press today during the first-stage consultation the bureau attended 158 forums to gauge public views. Of the 4,300 submissions received, 100 are from organisations, 1,000 from individuals and 3,200 standard forms.

The consultation showed that the public generally supported the healthcare reform proposals, including enhancing primary care, promoting public-private partnership, developing electronic health record sharing, and strengthening existing public safety net. There were also calls for implementing these reforms more quickly and vigorously.

Dr Chow said: "Their views have helped us better understand the demands of society in healthcare reform. This will allow us to formulate proposals which can address public concern for discussion in the second-stage of public consultation in the hope of reaching a consensus."

When devising more concrete proposals Dr Chow said the Government will take into account concerns expressed by different sectors of the community.

Service reform

On service reform, Dr Chow said there are three areas drawing great public concern, including:

* how to further upgrade public healthcare service quality, resource management and cost-effectiveness to ensure the public healthcare system can continue covering the public's basic health needs, particularly the disadvantaged;

* how to ensure fees paid by the public for private healthcare services and health insurance are value for money, including upgrading the private sector's charging mechanism's transparency and boosting service quality monitoring; and,

* how to ensure both the software and hardware of the healthcare system can meet future rising demand, including training of healthcare professionals.

Dr Chow said there are several key issues which must be addressed in the next stage, including the details of government health spending and service upgrades, and the use of the $50 billion set aside in the Budget to push ahead healthcare financing.

"To the public, a major concern is what kind of healthcare protection they can gain by contributing to a financing option," he said, adding surveys and focus group discussions are being held to garner more views.

Opinion appreciation

Acting Chief Executive Henry Tang hailed the public's involvement in the consultation.

"The first-stage public consultation shows there is clear consensus in the community to reform the healthcare system and improve healthcare services. The public in general feel the pressing need for healthcare reform.

"We will take on board their views and make best use of increased government healthcare funding in the next few years to take forward reforms that receive wide public support."