In Depth: Why Hong Kongers Are Flocking to the Mainland for Health Care

Hong Kongers have increasingly traveled to Guangdong province, specifically Shenzhen, for medical care, adding to a list of reasons that traditionally included cheaper luxuries like dining and shopping [para. 1]. Despite Hong Kong's high medical standards and world-leading life expectancy rates (80.7 years for men and 86.8 years for women) [para. 2], residents are opting for medical services on the mainland [para. 3].

Shenzhen has seen a surge in cross-border medical tourism from Hong Kong, with local hospitals like HKU-SZH reporting significant outpatient visits for non-emergency services such as cosmetic procedures, dentistry, ophthalmology, and traditional Chinese medicine. For instance, HKU-SZH recorded 40,493 outpatient visits from Hong Kong residents in the first quarter of this year [para. 4][para. 5][para. 6]. Dr. Yu Sze Yuen from HKU-SZH notes that many Hong Kong patients come for general practice services that handle chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension [para. 7].

The affordability and quick service on the mainland are major draws. For example, Wang Yuan, a 70-year-old Hong Konger, reported substantial savings on reading glasses and dental services in Shenzhen compared to Hong Kong [para. 8][para. 9][para. 10]. Routine surgeries also tend to be cheaper; knee replacement surgery costs around HK$27,000 in Shenzhen compared to over HK$100,000 in a private Hong Kong hospital [para. 11]. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine, much sought after by Hong Kong residents, is available at much lower costs on the mainland [para. 12].

Even for severe medical conditions like cancer, the mainland offers more affordable innovative treatments. Drugs like Pfizer's Lorlatinib for lung cancer have seen significant price reductions due to government negotiations, making them more accessible to patients [para. 13][para. 14][para. 15]. However, the bulk of Hong Kong's population still seeks local medical treatment, with only a tiny fraction crossing the border for care [para. 16][para. 17].

Hong Kong's dual-track health care system combines a public safety net with a private sector for premium, expedited services. The public system is under strain due to high demand and staff shortages; specialist consultations often have a minimum waiting period of 10 weeks [para. 20][para. 21][para. 22]. As the aging population increases pressure on the system, more residents are finding the mainland's medical services an appealing alternative [para. 23].

The Hong Kong government is also encouraging cross-border medical care. The Elderly Health Care Voucher (EHCV) Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme now allows residents aged 65 and older to use their vouchers in designated hospitals and clinics on the mainland, facilitating over 160,000 visits since 2015 [para. 24][para. 25].

To combat the high costs in Hong Kong, many residents are exploring mainland medical insurance options. These include employee basic and urban-rural resident basic medical insurance plans, with flexible employment categories accessible with a mainland residence card [para. 26][para. 27]. For example, Lin Yi, a Hong Konger, has maintained his mainland insurance even after relocating back to Hong Kong, taking advantage of favorable reimbursement rates [para. 28][para. 29][para. 30].

This trend of utilizing mainland medical services reflects a cost-effective and faster alternative for many Hong Kong residents, driven by both individual initiative and government policy encouragement [para. 18][para. 19][para. 31].