Drill for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in GBA by Hong Kong and Nansha performed efficiently (with pictures)
******************************************************************************************
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, in cooperation with the Nansha District People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality, carried out a drill today (October 16) for the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area (Pilot Scheme), imitating the transfer of clients by cross-boundary ambulance in between the Nansha Division of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (NSSYH) and the Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH), with a view to evaluating the path and migration plans.
In his current Policy Address, the Chief Executive proposed to extend the cross-boundary ambulance transfer plans with the federal governments of Guangdong and Macao in an organized way, consisting of two-way transfers and growth to cover designated healthcare facilities in Zhuhai and Nansha. The Health Bureau (HHB) revealed previously that the Pilot Scheme will be reached Zhuhai People’s Hospital and NSSYH.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, stated, “Today’s drill was conducted smoothly in general, and the Pilot Scheme is expected to be extended to Nansha by the end of this year. The HKSAR Government has been striving to deepen healthcare collaboration with other Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) cities to foster healthcare integration within the GBA, thereby building a ‘Healthy Bay Area’. Building upon the operational foundation of the Pilot Scheme launched last year, we conducted drills smoothly with Zhuhai and Nansha on the 26th of last month and today respectively, preparing for the extension of the Pilot Scheme in the next phase. The government departments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will continue to maintain close communication and co-operation to press ahead with the extension of the cross-boundary ambulance transfer arrangements in an orderly manner as set out in the Policy Address.”
The general operation of the Pilot Scheme has actually been smooth considering that its application. An overall of 17 clients were moved from the designated sending out healthcare facilities in Shenzhen and Macao (i.e. the University of Hong Kong – Shenzhen Hospital and the Conde S. Januario Hospital of Macao) to designated public medical facilities in Hong Kong. According to expert medical evaluation, clients of the above cases have a requirement for constant hospitalisation for treatment. Their conditions were reasonably steady, however they were not able to go back to Hong Kong by themselves and disagreed for transfer to Hong Kong ambulances by means of the existing border control points.