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A territory-wide survey conducted by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth
Groups found that an overwhelming majority (80%) of young respondents were
not in favor with the implementation of a mandatory contribution scheme for
health care. They were,
however, divided on whether or not the public should have to increase their
role in financing the health care system.
The survey also noted that two-thirds of respondents had not purchased
medical insurance, with most attributing the reason to a belief that they
were physically
fit. This suggested that most
respondents did not find private medical insurance attractive.
Around
half of the respondents had not heard about the Consultation Document on
Health Care reform put forward by the Government.
With regard to consulting doctors, 87% of respondents
revealed that they had consulted doctors over the past year, with most
turning to doctors working in the private sector.
Only 20% had consulted doctors in the public sector.
Another 30 per cent had consulted a
Chinese medicine practitioner over the past year.
The
telephone poll, conducted by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups from 13
to 15 February, successfully interviewed 547 young people aged between 18 and
34.
It
was found that the consideration of convenience, in terms of time saving and
high accessibility, was the most commonly cited reason when choosing treatment
in private hospitals.
Affordability was the main factor that prompted respondents to turn to
public health care services.
This was also the main area that respondents found most satisfactory
with the health care system in Hong Kong (53.9%), followed by
"equity" under which everyone could access essential health care,
regardless of his or her financial means (20%).
A noteworthy number of respondents were most dissatisfied with the long
waiting period.
The percentage was far higher than the other options, such as
discontinuity of services or poor
service attitude of staff.
In response to the findings, that half of respondents had not heard about the Consultation Paper, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups said that the Consultation Paper would have a far-reaching effect on health care services of Hong Kong in future. The Federation urged the Government to put a greater effort on increasing young people's awareness in this regard.
End
Youth Opinion Polls No.
87
