Hospital Authority appreciates generous donation from Li Ka Shing Foundation

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) today (February 25) expressed heartfelt appreciation for the generous donation of $50 million from the Li Ka Shing Foundation (LKSF) for assisting public hospitals to refer patients to receive elective surgery in private hospitals. Coronary patients who require cardiovascular examination and intervention treatment will be covered in the first stage of the programme. 

     The HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, said, "We express heartfelt appreciation for the generous donation from the LKSF to support public hospital patients and healthcare staff and help alleviate the stress of public hospitals during this severe moment of the epidemic. It is expected that more than 200 suitable coronary patients will be referred to private hospitals for treatment gradually."

     Five private hospitals, namely the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong, the CUHK Medical Centre, St Teresa's Hospital and Precious Blood Hospital, will receive non-COVID-19 patients referred by public hospitals and who have to undergo elective surgery. This will in turn enable public hospitals to free up manpower to fight the epidemic.

     The clinical procedures covered by the programme include cardiovascular examination and intervention treatment. The medical fees and charges paid by the patients will be similar to those in the public hospitals. Patients will have to pay a lump sum amount of $40,000 for self-financed intervention treatment if required. The LKSF will cover the rest of the medical fees. Recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance and Higher Old Age Living Allowance will have payment waived for self-financed items, which will be covered by the LKSF. 

     The HA is exploring the coverage of patients who need to undergo specific oncology surgery in the next stage of the programme.