The Hong Kong government's Health & Medical Development Advisory Committee has started deliberation on healthcare financing and is expected to release a consultation paper to consult the public by the end of this year, a senior official said here Saturday.

Speaking on a radio talk show, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow said the medical reform is aimed at rectifying the serious imbalance between the public and private sectors.

It is also aimed at changing the habit of people seeking non-emergency treatments at the accident and emergency wards, encouraging them to seek minor treatment from a family doctor, andpromoting a healthy-lifestyle among the public, said Chow.

Chow said the cost of each patient at the accident and emergency wards is about 800 Hong Kong dollars (102.56 US dollars),which is much higher than the charge of private doctors.

To rectify the situation, the government is considering providing family health doctor services near the wards to reduce the long queue at the hospitals.

He said to prevent non-Hong Kong residents from abusing the medical services, the authorities are now reviewing the medial charges for non-Hong Kong residents and will submit a proposal to the Legislative Council in the next one or two months for deliberation.

Source: Xinhua