Programme Introduction
To cater for the growing demand for colon assessment, the Hospital Authority (HA) has launched the Colon Assessment Public-Private Partnership Programme to provide subsidy to eligible patients to receive related services from private specialists. By utilizing the service capacity in private sector, the Programme offers choices to patients so that they can receive colonoscopy and appropriate treatment as early as possible.
Under the Programme, patients can choose one participating private specialist from the list who will provide clinical assessment, colonoscopy procedure and explanation of results. For patient requiring biopsy and /or polypectomy, tissue specimen will be sent by the performing private specialist for histopathology examination. The private specialist will also discuss further treatment plan with the patient if appropriate.
The HA will offer a one-off fixed subsidy of $6,800 (without polypectomy) or $7,500 (with polypectomy) to each patient. Patient will only need to bear a minimum co-payment of $1,000. An additional fee of up to $1,000 may be charged by the private specialist and the fees are clearly stated in the HA list of Specialists for patients to select. Participating patients who are eligible for a waiver under the criteria set out in the Programme can select enrolled private specialist offering no co-payment, while the co-payment amount of HK$1,000 will be borne by HA.
Subject to the availability of Programme quota, the HA has started invitation to patients in December 2016. Eligible patients include those who are currently on the waiting list for colonoscopy in public hospitals, classified as stable cases, and fit for home bowel preparation and colonoscopy under ambulatory setting. The Programme office issues invitation letters to patients in batches according to patients’ registered waiting time and clinical condition, and patients do not need to apply by themselves. Invited patients will then attend designated HA clinics to undergo assessment and submit enrollment forms. Patients also need to register for the Electronic Health Record Sharing System so that patients’ medical records and investigation results can be shared between the HA and private doctors.