Hospital Authority clarifies on social media post
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In response to a social media post criticising a $250 fee charged to diabetic patients attending a talk and alleging overcharging, the spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) made the following clarification today (August 29):
The $250 fee is not an admission fee for attending a talk, but rather a charge for personalised treatment services. Personalised treatment is an integral part of clinical services. The HA provides relevant services based on patients' clinical needs and charges according to the fee schedule gazetted by the Government. There is absolutely no overcharging involved.
Public hospitals provide different services tailored to patients' needs. The vast majority of health education services delivered through talks or activities fall under general health education services and are free of charge. For patients referred by doctors for personalised treatment, talks may be arranged as part of the treatment process, and such services are charged according to the established arrangements.
The relevant services are outlined below:
1. General Health Education Services — Free of charge
Organised by Patient Resource Centre in hospitals, health education talks and patient support group activities are held regularly to impart health and nursing knowledge. These activities are open to all patients, carers, and interested members of the public at no charge.
2. Personalised Treatment Services — $250 per follow-up consultation
Diabetic patients referred by doctors to allied health clinics for follow-up (such as dietetic services) fall under this category. Dietitians arrange appropriate assessments according to the patients' clinical conditions, formulate personalised dietary advice based on the assessment results, continuously monitor patients' compliance, and follow up on the treatment.
Generally, before receiving the service, patients are arranged to attend a talk where a dietitian explains essential dietary knowledge. Immediately following the talk, patients are seen by the dietitian to begin assessment and treatment. In other words, the talk is only the first step of the entire treatment process. Patients are subsequently provided with a series of services, including assessments, personalised advice, and continuous follow-up. This differs significantly from general online health information. The services provided by the HA incude clinical assessment for individual patients, tailor-made dietary advice, and progress monitoring.
In addition to dietetic services, Diabetic Nurse Clinics and Family Medicine Clinics also provide similar personalised treatments covering clinical assessment, exercise, personal health, and weight management. Talks are likewise arranged during the process to teach essential treatment and care knowledge.
Ends/Saturday, August 29, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:13
Issued at HKT 11:13
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