The Hong Kong Health Bureau announced today the scope of use for the second batch of healthcare vouchers for senior citizens in the Chinese mainland, Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital being named. Eligible senior citizens of Hong Kong may use their Healthcare Vouchers at the Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital, giving those who live nearby or who frequently travel between the two localities another choice in medical care.
Carl Wu, New Frontier Co-founder and CEO and UFH CEO, stated, “We are so pleased that the hospital is one of the voucher service spots in the GBA and are very thankful to the Hong Kong Health Bureau, Health Commission of Guangdong Province, and Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen. The idea behind the vouchers is to encourage seniors to exercise greater concern for their health, so we will work with the government to give seniors a solid health foundation, providing them with another convenient choice in medical care while relieving some of the pressure on Hong Kong’s medical organizations.”
The voucher plan allows those of 65 and older with a valid Hong Kong ID card or a Certificate of Exemption (issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department) to use annually government-issued HKD2,000 vouchers (which may be accumulated to a maximum value of HKD8,000) for medical care. After an evaluation of an individual’s medical needs, they may use the vouchers for outpatient treatment items designated by the government at Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital starting (tentatively) in Q3 2024.
A comprehensive private hospital based in Shenzhen that is connected to the New Frontier subsidiary HEAL Medical in Hong Kong and that provides medical services across the GBA, Shenzhen United Family Hospital has long given patients in Hong Kong access to medical services, gaining much experience. It is internationally reputed for its Hong Kong style of medical care, and groups of Hong Kong physicians regularly come to work at the hospital. Thus, it is prepared to help many Hong Kong seniors with professional, targeted, and uncrowded, one-stop health management services in Shenzhen.
Brian Xiao, New Frontier Executive Director and GBA-region COO stated that the fees for care for patients paying with vouchers will be the same as the hospital’s own fees, or there may even be discounted packages. The Hong Kong government will also regularly spot-check and evaluate data on voucher use to monitor the situation and ensure the hospital is following regulations. The hospital will fully cooperate with the Hong Kong government to implement the medical voucher program and ensure a smooth procedure for each service item.
To meet the needs of patients from Hong Kong, the hospital has hired physicians and nurses who speak Cantonese, and there is a service window for people from Hong Kong. Medical reports are given in Chinese and English so that Hong Kong residents can link their treatment in Shenzhen to that in Hong Kong. There are 26 departments in the hospital, including general medicine, health management, dentistry, internal medicine and surgery department.
