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Secretary for Health inspects first-day operational arrangements at pilot medical institutions under Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme (with photos)
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     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Peking University Shenzhen Hospital (PKUSZH) and Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University (SHSMU) today (August 28) to inspect the operational arrangements on the first day of the service launch under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme, as well as to receive briefings from the hospital staff on the treatment flow for Hong Kong elderly persons and to understand the latest services and facilities of the hospitals.

     Professor Lo also took the opportunity to engage with Hong Kong elderly persons attending the clinics and was pleased to learn that they welcomed the Pilot Scheme and applauded the smooth provision of services. The elderly persons expressed gratitude to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government for implementing the scheme and considered that the expansion to 21 service points in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) has greatly enhanced convenience, providing them with more medical treatment options and sparing them the burden of lengthy journeys.

     Professor Lo said, "Following the service launch of the three pilot medical institutions today, the goal of extending the Pilot Scheme to nine Mainland cities in the GBA as announced in 'The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address' has been fully achieved. The nine cities are fully covered under the Pilot Scheme. In just two years, the number of service points for using Elderly Health Care Vouchers (EHCVs) in the GBA has expanded from the two service points operated by the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital to tenfold with a total of 21 service points (see Annex). Additionally, the coverage has expanded from being applicable only in Shenzhen to full coverage of nine Mainland cities in the GBA. The Pilot Scheme marks a significant milestone for policy innovation and healthcare collaboration between the two places, fully demonstrating the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments' commitment and dedication to cross-boundary medical collaboration. 

     "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude once again to the Health Commission of Guangdong Province and the health authorities of various cities for their strong support and assistance with the Pilot Scheme, benefitting more than 1.78 million eligible Hong Kong elderly persons. At the same time, I extend my sincere appreciation to the 19 pilot medical institutions under the Pilot Scheme for their wholehearted commitment and meticulous arrangements in providing high-quality healthcare services to Hong Kong elderly persons."

     He emphasised, "The HKSAR Government will stay committed to fulfilling the important role of safeguarding the well-being of Hong Kong citizens by continuing to provide them with quality healthcare services and will not shift the responsibility of taking care of Hong Kong citizens' well-being to the Mainland healthcare system. The Pilot Scheme aims to offer elderly persons greater choices in using their EHCVs according to their individual circumstances. We will continue to assess and monitor the operation and usage of EHCVs in the pilot medical institutions and review the effectiveness of the Pilot Scheme in due course. Under the principle of complementarity and mutual benefits, we will continue to promote healthcare collaboration in different cities of the country to jointly build a 'Healthy Bay Area' and advance the strategy of 'Healthy China'."

     PKUSZH is a modern comprehensive Tier III Class A public hospital, which is invested in and established by the Shenzhen Municipal Government and assigned to integrate medical services, scientific research and teaching. It is also a high-level hospital of Guangdong Province and a designated medical institution under the measure of using Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in the GBA (Measure). 

     SHSMU is a municipal-level comprehensive Tier III Class A public hospital jointly established by the Shenzhen Municipal Government and Southern Medical University. It also stands as the sole university-affiliated hospital within the Qianhai Free Trade Zone undertaking concurrent missions in healthcare provision, teaching and scientific research and is a designated medical institution under the Measure.

     Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee; the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health's Office), Dr Joe Fan; and officials of the Department of Health also participated in the visit.
 
Ends/Thursday, August 28, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:35
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The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Peking University Shenzhen Hospital today (August 28) to inspect the operational arrangements on the first day of the service launch under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. Photo shows Professor Lo (second left) and Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee (first right) receiving briefings from the hospital staff on the treatment flow for Hong Kong elderly persons.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Peking University Shenzhen Hospital today (August 28) to inspect the operational arrangements on the first day of the service launch under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. Photo shows Professor Lo (left) and Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee (centre) receiving briefings from the hospital staff on the flow of settling payments for Hong Kong elderly persons.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Peking University Shenzhen Hospital today (August 28) to inspect the operational arrangements on the first day of the service launch under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. Photo shows Professor Lo (centre) and Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee (right) receiving briefings from the hospital staff on the flow of settling payments for Hong Kong elderly persons.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Peking University Shenzhen Hospital (PKUSZH) today (August 28) to inspect the operational arrangements on the first day of the service launch under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. Photo shows Professor Lo (centre); Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee (fourth left); and the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health's Office), Dr Joe Fan (third left), together with the Secretary of the CPC Committee of PKUSZH, Mr Li Jieyun (fifth left); Vice President of PKUSZH Professor Han Zhen (second right); and other officials.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University today (August 28) to inspect the operational arrangements on the first day of the service launch under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. Photo shows Professor Lo (second right) chatting with an elderly citizen from Hong Kong who shared her experience in using the Pilot Scheme services at the hospital.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University today (August 28) to inspect the operational arrangements on the first day of the service launch under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. Photo shows Professor Lo (second right) and Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee (third right) engaging with a hospital staff member.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University today (August 28) to inspect the operational arrangements on the first day of the service launch under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. Photo shows Professor Lo (left) engaging with a hospital staff member.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University (SHSMU) today (August 28) to inspect the operational arrangements on the first day of the service launch under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme. Photo shows Professor Lo (centre); Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee (fourth right); and the Senior Advisor (Secretary for Health's Office), Dr Joe Fan (third right), together with Deputy Directors of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality Mr Wen Zhengwan (fifth left) and Ms Zhou Liping (fifth right), as well as the Director of SHSMU, Professor Zhou Hongwei (second left); Deputy Director of SHSMU Professor Chen Ye (second right); and other officials.

Attachment

Annex