Hong Kong Retiree Finds Major Savings on Prostate Treatment in Shenzhen
Quick Look
Hong Kong retiree Philip Kong, 75, discovered he could reduce his prostate surgery bill by up to 90% by opting for treatment at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital rather than a Hong Kong facility, prompting him to reflect on local healthcare costs.
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Why It Matters
A 75-year-old Hong Kong retiree found that prostate surgery in Shenzhen could cost significantly less than in Hong Kong, prompting him to question the local healthcare system.
Retiree Philip Kong says he realised Hong Kong’s healthcare system needed a wake-up call when he discovered that receiving treatment for his prostate condition in neighbouring Shenzhen could potentially cut his medical bill by nearly 90 per cent.
The 75-year-old was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate earlier this year and set to pay HK$210,000 (US$26,780) for a scheduled surgery at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital – until a family friend, who is a urologist, suggested another option.
The alternative? The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital – a 2,000-bed clinical, teaching and research facility in Futian that opened in 2012 – offered a full examination, including blood and urine tests, for about HK$300 and an extra HK$20,000 for the standard inpatient procedure.
In the end, Kong opted not to go for the larger discount and paid for the “deluxe” HK$60,000 package. It included a private room with a sea view and meant the operation was performed by three “professor-grade” specialists.
“It is a fraction of the cost, and treats you like a king,” Kong said after making an initial trip to the hospital to explore his options.
While Kong, who has lived and worked in Hong Kong as a businessman all his life, is enrolled in the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme, the episode has still left him shaken.
Open Questions
- How widespread is this cost disparity for other medical procedures?
- What are the implications for Hong Kong's healthcare system?
