The Hong Kong Hospital Authority announced on the 29th that it will fully implement various measures for the reform of public healthcare fees on January 1, 2026. These measures will not only benefit the development of public healthcare, but also strengthen the protection of poor, urgent, severe, and critically ill patients, expected to benefit about 2 million people. After the implementation of the reform measures, the Hospital Authority will comprehensively strengthen the protection of patients in need, by optimizing the medical expense reduction mechanism, expanding the safety net of the Samaritan Fund, and setting an annual upper limit of HKD 10000 for public medical service fees (excluding self funded drugs and equipment), so that more patients in need can receive assistance. In addition to caring for vulnerable groups, relevant measures will also prevent middle-income individuals from falling into poverty due to serious illnesses. The number of beneficiaries will significantly increase from the current about 300000 to about 1.4 million. In addition, there will be about 600000 recipients of comprehensive social security assistance, recipients of living allowances for elderly people aged 75 or above, and holders of Grade 0 vouchers for the Elderly Care Service Voucher Scheme. It is expected that about 2 million people will benefit. The Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Fan Hongling, said that after the comprehensive implementation of various reform measures, the current imbalance in public hospital services can be gradually reversed, and the protection of patients, especially poor, urgent, severe, and critically ill patients, can be strengthened. Public medical services can continue to develop and cope with the challenges brought by Hong Kong's aging population to the healthcare system. The Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital Authority, Li Xiayin, said that all systems of the Hospital Authority, including patient registration, billing, clinical medical care, etc., have been tested. All systems will be officially adjusted to the new charging model at midnight on January 1, 2026. The Hospital Authority will closely monitor the operation of various public hospitals to ensure the smooth implementation of the charging reform. (New Society)