If you were a senior in Hong Kong

If you were a senior in Hong Kong, I would say you could be pretty sure that your later life would be well covered. Well, of course, you would have to make a noise first of all and get into the system, i.e., register with the Social Services Department, and then take it from there.

Hong Kong has universal health coverage. For a nominal fee—really nominal—you will be seen by doctors in public clinics and hospitals. You will also get the drugs you need, without paying anything further. Some really novel and expensive drugs are not covered, but there are always alternative drugs that the doctor can prescribe free of charge. If you consult a specialist within the public system, then you will only pay HK$10 (US$1.28) per drug item. You only pay HK$100 for a day in a public hospital, which is just US$12.80. If you need surgery (even heart bypass or brain surgery), chemo, anything, it is all covered.

Of course, before getting treatment, you will need to wait in line. There can be a long wait for specialist appointments, ranging from a few months—rarely—to a couple of years. People in Hong Kong need to wait for three years for cataract operations within the public system.

There is also low-cost housing. Although Hong Kong does not have an official poverty line, there is a reasonable social security net. You won’t get overly comfortable if you are on social security, but you will be covered one way or another.

There are home-care services, and all kinds of in-home support to enable you to live at home and out of long-term residential care. If you applied for residential care with the Social Services Department, you and/or your family will have to wait for 3-plus years. There are also day hospitals and daycare services. But there are always long queues to get into these.

The worst is probably dental care. But isn’t it the same in other parts of the world?

Many seniors may have their roots in the Chinese mainland. Therefore, they may go back to their hometown to spend the rest of their lives. The cost of living is considerably cheaper and, also, they are with their relatives. You may lose your social security benefits if you leave Hong Kong for more than six months. However, recently there has been litigation against this policy, claiming that it is against Hong Kong’s “Basic Law.” The results are not yet known.

There are, of course, problems in our elderly services. But, in general, I appreciate all these things that society and the government are doing for seniors in Hong Kong. As a nurse, it is especially hard for me, knowing that just across the border in the Chinese mainland, health care is not a right for all.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.