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The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 58 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (October 8).
This publication contains key findings of the Thematic Household Survey conducted during March to August 2014. The survey collected information on the health status of Hong Kong residents; their patterns with respect to doctor consultation, hospitalisation and dental consultation; and provision of medical benefits by employers/companies and coverage of medical insurance purchased by individuals.
According to the results of the survey, it was estimated that some 2 041 000 persons had chronic health conditions (e.g. hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes mellitus) as told by practitioners of Western medicine, constituting 29.8% of the total population covered in the survey. The rate of having chronic health conditions increased with the age of persons, from 8.4% for those aged below 15 to 74.6% for those aged 65 and over.
Some 1 632 000 persons (23.8%) had consulted a doctor during the 30 days before enumeration. While 89.3% of them had consulted practitioners of Western medicine, 17.7% consulted practitioners of Chinese medicine, including practitioners of Chinese medicine (general practice), bone-setters and acupuncturists, during that period.
At the time of enumeration, some 3 336 500 persons (48.7%) were entitled to medical benefits provided by employers/companies or were covered by medical insurance purchased by individuals or had both kinds of medical protection. Among them, 1 114 800 (33.4%) were entitled to medical benefits from employers/companies only, including 317 900 persons (9.5%) entitled to medical benefits provided by the civil service/Hospital Authority only. While another 1 248 800 persons (37.4%) were covered by medical insurance purchased by individuals only, the remaining 972 800 (29.2%) had both kinds of medical protection.
Of the 3 336 500 persons, the most commonly cited type of medical protection which they had was hospitalisation (90.3%), followed by consultation with practitioners of Western medicine (64.5%), dental consultation (31.3%), consultation with practitioners of Chinese medicine (19.6%) and medical check-up (11.1%).
Of the remaining 3 510 600 persons (51.3%) who were not entitled to any medical benefits provided by employers/companies and were not covered by medical insurance purchased by individuals, 38.6% were economically active persons, 24.5% were retired persons, 18.9% were students and 12.9% were home-makers.
Respondents of the survey who were aged 15 and over were also asked about their self-perceived general health condition. The survey results showed that 8.4% of persons aged 15 and over considered their general health condition as excellent or very good; 53.3% good; 34.3% fair; and 4.0% poor.
Detailed findings of the survey, together with the population coverage, concepts/definitions of key terms and data limitations, are presented in the publication.
Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp140.jsp?productCode=B1130201).
Enquiries about the contents of the publication can be made to the Social Surveys Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5103 or email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, October 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:30
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