The Thematic Household Survey Report No. 68 is published by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (November 14).

     This publication contains key findings of the Thematic Household Survey conducted during November 2018 to February 2019. The survey collected information on various topics, including the utilisation of health services, medical benefits provided by employers/ companies, coverage of individually purchased medical insurance and views on organ donation of Hong Kong residents.

     Findings of the 2018/19 survey revealed that some 1 523 200 persons (21.5%) had consulted a doctor during the 30 days before enumeration. While 89.6% of them had consulted practitioners of Western medicine, 14.6% 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 3 610 700 persons (51.1%) were entitled to medical benefits provided by employers/companies or were covered by individually purchased medical insurance or had both kinds of medical protection. Among them, 1 114 900 (30.9%) were entitled to medical benefits from employers/companies only, including 306 800 persons (8.5%) entitled to medical benefits provided by Civil Service/Hospital Authority only. While another 1 318 900 persons (36.5%) were covered by individually purchased medical insurance only, the remaining 1 176 900 (32.6%) had both kinds of medical protection.

     Of the 3 610 700 persons, the most commonly cited type of medical protection which they had was hospitalisation (91.4%), followed by consultation with practitioners of Western medicine (64.1%), dental consultation (33.4%), consultation with practitioners of Chinese medicine (22.1%) and medical check-up (10.6%).

     Of the remaining 3 461 800 persons (48.9%) who were not entitled to any medical benefits provided by employers/companies and were not covered by individually purchased medical insurance, 38.0% were economically active persons, 28.0% were retired persons, 17.2% were students and 13.4% were home-makers.

     Among some 4 818 000 persons aged 18 to 64 covered in the survey, some 1 527 500 persons (31.7%) were willing to donate their organs after death whereas about 593 900 persons (12.3%) were not willing; and over half of them (56.0%) had not yet decided/ considered to do so or refused to answer questions on organ donation. Respondents aged 18 to 64 in the survey were asked whether they were informed of the wish of family member on organ donation after death. Among those who had answered this question (covering 4 392 700 persons), the majority (76.6%) were not informed of the wish whereas about one-fifth (19.8%) were informed of the wish; and 3.6% expressed that they did not know/could not remember whether they were informed of the wish.

Other information

     The survey successfully enumerated target respondents in some 10 000 households in accordance with a scientific sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong.

     Detailed findings of the survey, together with the population coverage and concepts/definitions of key terms, 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 (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 0592 or email: thematic@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Thursday, November 14, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:30

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