Hong Kong 2006
 GO
Chapter 8:
Health
Introduction
Organisational Framework
Primary Healthcare Services
Secondary, Tertiary
and Specialised
Healthcare Services
Health Promotion
Smoking and Health
Disease Prevention
and Control
Health Regulatory Activities
Training of Medical
and Health Personnel
Laboratory Services
Auxiliary Medical Service
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Introduction

The Government aims to ensure no one in Hong Kong is deprived of medical care because of lack of means. It provides a wide range of public services and facilities to meet the healthcare needs of the community. It also works endlessly to safeguard public health — combating infectious diseases and promoting health education. Second-hand smoking is dealt with severely. The law on tobacco control has been further strengthened, and smoking in most indoor and outdoor places such as restaurants, bars, offices and leisure grounds is now banned.

  2006 Figures at a Glance
  Infant Mortality Rate 1.8 per 1 000 registered live births
  Maternal Mortality Ratio 0.0 per 100 000 registered live births
(Nil cases of registered maternal death)
  Life Expectancy 2006
2033
79.5 (Male)
85.6 (Male)
82.5 (Female)
88.0 (Female) projected

Hong Kong has a quality healthcare system supported by a highly professional team of healthcare workers. The infant mortality rate has declined steadily over the past 20 years to become the lowest in the world in 2006. Hong Kong people's life expectancy has improved notably. In 2004, male life expectancy was 79 years, the highest in the world; while female life expectancy at 84.8 years was the third highest, or slightly lower than that of Japan and Monaco.

But Hong Kong's healthcare system comes at a price. According to the Government's Domestic Health Accounts (DHA)1, Hong Kong's health bill increased from 3.8 per cent of GDP in 1989-90 to 5.5 per cent in 2001-02.2 The Government's share of this expenditure rose from 43 per cent to 57 per cent in the same period. The Government's total spending on health-related matters in the 2004-05 financial year amounted to $37.8 billion, equivalent to 14.7 per cent of total public expenditure, or 2.9 per cent of GDP. Hong Kong's ageing population, rising expectations of healthcare, and soaring medical costs pose a challenge for the Government in the long run and is a matter of concern to the community.

1A series of accounts compiled over the years in accordance with the International Classification for Health Accounts (ICHA) Framework developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development to keep track of Hong Kong's health spending and to allow for international comparison.
2The statistics from Domestic Health Accounts for 2004-05 were not yet available at the time of publication.
2005 I 2004 I 2003 I 2002 I 2001 I 2000 I 1999 I 1998 I 1997