Hong Kong ER Visits Drop 12% After New Fee Hike

Visits to public hospital emergency rooms in Hong Kong fell sharply after new, higher fees took effect. Attendance dropped by nearly 12% in the first week. The new pricing system began on January 1. The Hospital Authority reported a "significant decrease" in average daily Accident and Emergency (A&E) department visits. At the same time, the number of people receiving financial help to cover the fees has tripled. This means many more low-income families and vulnerable groups are getting fee waivers. The authority says the data shows the new policy is working. It aims to reduce non-urgent cases in emergency departments, allowing staff to focus on critical patients.