************************************************************
The number of non-local pregnant women giving birth in Hong Kong in 2012 will be limited to 35,000, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, said today (June 24).
He pointed out that the measure will ensure that professional standards and high quality of service in local obstetric care are maintained and ensure the sustainable development of Hong Kong's obstetric and paediatric services.
Dr Chow said public and private hospitals have responded positively and agreed to reduce the number of deliveries by non-local pregnant women in Hong Kong in 2012 following discussions among the Government, the Hospital Authority (HA) and private hospitals in the past two months.
"There is a surge of demand for Hong Kong's obstetric services by non-local residents, in particular Mainland women, in recent years. To ease the tremendous pressure on the overall obstetric and neonatal care services, and to ensure that local pregnant women are given priority for services, the public and private medical sectors agreed to set a quota for non-local expectant mothers," he said.
After thorough consideration, the Government decided that the HA should maintain its practice to reserve sufficient places in public hospitals for local pregnant women.
The HA would only accept bookings from non-local women when spare service capacity is available. It is estimated that some 3,400 booking places from public hospitals could be allocated to this group of people next year. The HA will stop accepting bookings once the service capacity is full.
Dr Chow said operators of private hospitals also agreed to provide sufficient services for local pregnant women. The 10 private hospitals offering obstetric services also agreed to reduce bookings from non-local pregnant women based on their individual circumstances. The level of reduction varied among the hospitals.
The number set for deliveries by non-local pregnant women in private hospitals in 2012 will be around 31,000. The figure is similar to that of 2010 but indicates a decrease of about 7 per cent as compared with 33,000 this year.
The Government will determine the number of deliveries in 2013 after discussions with the HA and the private hospitals in the first quarter of next year.
Dr Chow added that the Department of Health will provide two types of "Certificate on confirmed antenatal and delivery booking" to public and private hospitals respectively.
The certificates, which will carry personal information of the pregnant women, names and contacts of the obstetricians and dates of antenatal checkups, and will be issued by the hospitals concerned, will serve as booking confirmation and proof of entry for non-local pregnant women. Non-local pregnant women will be required to present the certificates at the immigration control points when entering Hong Kong.
The arrangement will also facilitate the Department of Health to keep a close watch on the services provided by individual hospitals and obstetricians.
Dr Chow said that apart from limiting the number of deliveries by non-local pregnant women, the Government will also require them to undergo antenatal checkups by obstetricians in Hong Kong at an appropriate stage to assess if they are suitable to give birth in the territory.
"The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is formulating guidelines for the checkups to facilitate obstetricians in making clinical assessment. The guidelines are expected to be compiled in the coming two months."
Dr Chow added that more resources would be put in place by the Hospital Authority to enhance the services of the neonatal intensive care units (NICU).
Individual private hospitals will also further improve their special baby care services in order to reduce referral to the NICUs of public hospitals.
Dr Chow thanked the private hospital operators, medical staff in the public sector, concern groups on local obstetrics and neonatal services, the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Hong Kong College of Paediatricians for their concerted efforts in safeguarding the well-being of women giving birth in Hong Kong as well as their babies.
Ends/Friday, June 24, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:11
NNNN
