The Programme is a Government-funded programme to increase the cataract surgeries throughput with the aim of reducing the waiting time of cataract surgery for Hospital Authority (“HA”) patients through a public-private partnership delivery model. It offers a fixed amount of HK$8,000 subsidy for each cataract surgery if a patient chooses to receive treatment from a private ophthalmologist, subject to a co-payment of not more than HK$8,000.

Patients who join the Programme can make reference to the list of the participating private ophthalmologists sent to them and are free to choose his/her own private ophthalmologist.

A number of patients who are eligible for a waiver under the criteria set out in the webpage of the Cataract Surgeries Programme (http://www.ha.org.hk/ppp/csp) (as amended from time to time at HA’s sole discretion) (“Waiver Eligible Patients”) may consult private ophthalmologists who are willing to offer Cataract Surgery at HK$8,000, with no Co-Payment.

The Programme started in February 2008 and is further extended to 2021/22. The HA issues invitation letters to patients in batches.

Any medical practitioner who is currently included in the Specialist Register in the specialty of ophthalmology, in accordance with Section 20K of the Medical Registration Ordinance(Cap. 161, the Laws of Hong Kong), may apply to participate in the Private Sector Model upon invitation by HA or on their own volition. 

The private ophthalmologist who participates in this Programme should also follow the “Guideline on Infection Control Practice” and must have in place appropriate and adequate professional indemnity insurance. 

The participating private ophthalmologist shall personally perform the Cataract Surgery and personally provide to the patient the other services under the package or agreed with the patient. For details, please refer to the Terms and Conditions of the Programme. 

The total charge comprises two parts: a fixed amount subsidy of HK$8,000 and the co-payment agreed between the patient and the private ophthalmologist. The amount of co-payment agreed between the patient and the private ophthalmologist cannot exceed HK$8,000.

Patients who fulfill the following criteria will be eligible to be invited for the Programme.

-     He/She has been on the HA cataract surgery waiting list for 18 months or above (those with longer waiting time will be given higher priority);

-     local anaesthesia is suitable for the patient; and

-     he/she has been triaged to routine waiting list. (Urgent and early cases need to be      handled with priority. Therefore, the HA will continue to arrange surgeries for these      cases instead of offering these patients the choice to undertake treatment from private      ophthalmologists.)

HA shall compile a list of private ophthalmologists and set out on the list for the private ophthalmologists who are willing to undertake cataract surgery at the amount of subsidy (without co-payment) for Waiver Eligible Patients so that these patients can approach these private ophthalmologists. As places are limited and offered on a first-come-first-serve basis, Waiver Eligible Patients may approach HA Project Team during the 6-month validity period to have of the cataract surgery performed at a HA cluster hospital outside normal clinical hours under the Public Sector Model.

The Package includes one pre-operative assessment, the Cataract Surgery (including one appropriate basic monofocal intraocular lens and all medical consumables) and 2 post-operative checks. The package should be the same for any patients who choose the Private Sector Model, irrespective of the co-payment amount.

The private ophthalmologist will provide treatment as a package which includes one pre-operative assessment, the cataract surgery including a basic monofocal intraocular lens, if any, and 2 post-operative checks.

The patient needs to agree with the private ophthalmologist on the fee for the package. Whilst this fee can vary, the maximum fee that a private ophthalmologist may charge cannot exceed HK$16,000. As the patient will have a HK$8,000 subsidy, the patient may accordingly need to co-pay up to HK$8,000. The HA will disburse the HK$8,000 subsidy to the private ophthalmologist directly after the completion of cataract surgery and treatment package.

Under this Programme, the private ophthalmologist whom a patient has selected for Cataract Surgery may notify HA of the change, subject to clinical assessment on the condition of the patient’s eyes. 

Patients who are eligible for a waiver under the criteria set out in the webpage of the Cataract Surgeries Programme (http://www.ha.org.hk/ppp/csp) (as amended from time to time at HA’s sole discretion) (“Waiver Eligible Patients”) (Attachment 3) can choose to participate in the Programme and then approach private ophthalmologists who agreed to provide cataract surgeries to such patients without any co-payment.

The Programme covers a basic monofocal intraocular lens. If the patient requests a lens with more functions, the private ophthalmologist may charge for the co-payment more than HK$8,000. The patient needs to agree with the private ophthalmologist on the additional amount to be charged.

All private ophthalmologists who enroll to this Programme are required to register in the eHRSS. The eHRSS allows the private ophthalmologists to access the patient’s clinical information in HA. It also allows a 2-way public-private patient information exchange by sharing diagnosis or treatment records to enhance continuity of care for the patient.

When the patient’s application has been accepted, a list of such private ophthalmologists will be sent together with the notification letter. Patients can approach and liaise directly with these private ophthalmologists.

Basically, an eHR-compatible computer system connected to internet is sufficient for accessing eHRSS. Private ophthalmologists can refer to the Guide for Healthcare Provider Registration eHRSS for details. (Softcopy of Guide for Healthcare Provider Registration eHRSS can be downloaded from eHRSS after login)

The private ophthalmologist should report to HA by faxing a Reporting Form as soon as possible and in any event within 48 hours for 3 types of conditions where reporting is mandatory. In addition, all complications should be reported under the eHRSS which will generate regular reports to HA.

Patients participating in the “Private Sector Model” will need to participate in the eHRSS to enable their clinical information in the HA to be accessed by their private ophthalmologists for the cataract surgeries. The system (“eHRSS”) is also enhanced particularly for the Programme to allow the private ophthalmologists to input their clinical information which will be returned to the HA patient information database for the patients’ continuation of care.

He/She should return the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS) Registration Form (if not yet registered) (Attachment 4), Patient Reply Form (blue in colour)(Attachment 6) to the HA confirming that he/she agrees to participate in this Programme. The HA will then issue him / her a notification letter with the Personal Registration Number in the Programme. Once the patient has chosen his/her private ophthalmologist to conduct his/her cataract surgery, he/she should present this personal registration number to the doctor who will then enter this number in the eHRSS to log the subsidy. Please note that once the private ophthalmologist has logged the subsidy, it cannot be reversed.

The subsidy is only valid for 6 months of a date specified in the notification letter and the patient must receive the cataract surgery during this validity period.

The patient who has received the cataract surgery before the expiry of the validity period is required to sign on the ”Subsidy Redemption Form” to confirm that he has received the cataract surgery.

The patient will return to his/her hospital’s cataract surgery waiting list with their original waiting priority maintained.

The patient has 1 free pre-operative assessment each to 2 private ophthalmologists free of charge before making his/her choice. The private ophthalmologist may charge for any additional or subsequent visit which would be paid by the patient. 

Under existing HA practice, the patient has one eye listed (left or right) on the cataract surgery waiting list. If the private ophthalmologist considers that surgery should be done for the other eye based on clinical condition, the private ophthalmologist can arrange with the HA to change the listed eye.

The patient can proceed with the normal medical insurance claim procedure for any payment made, according to respective terms of any medical insurance obtained. The patient should check details and eligibility with respective insurance agent(s).

All private ophthalmologists participating in the Programme have to be Ophthalmology Specialists registered in the list of specialists of the Medical Council of Hong Kong. 

The participating private ophthalmologists also need to follow the “Guidelines on Infection Control Practice” developed for this Programme. 

Through the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS), clinical outcomes and complications in relation to the cataract surgeries provided by private ophthalmologists can be monitored. 

The HA will conduct a patient satisfaction survey with the support of patients after they have received treatment under the Programme.

The HA acts as the administrator of the Programme. HA shall not be involved in any way in, and shall not be liable for, any negotiation or agreement between the patient and any private ophthalmologist or for the services rendered by any private ophthalmologist, or in respect of any fee or charge of the private ophthalmologist.

The CSEP may apply for reimbursement of the co-payment not exceeding HK$8,000 made to the private ophthalmologist upon completion of the cataract surgery by completing the standard reimbursement form enclosed in the invitation pack with receipt from private ophthalmologist for reimbursement from Department of Health.

The HA will issue invitation letters in batches to the patients to invite them to apply to participate in the Programme, with priority to those patients who have waited longest on the HA central waiting list. Patients do not need to approach HA.