The Cross-Border Direct Ambulance Service is officially Launching
Patient Transport Across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
The Hong Kong SAR Government, in collaboration with the governments of Guangdong Province and Shenzhen City, as well as the Macau SAR Government, officially launched a one-year "Greater Bay Area Cross-Border Direct Ambulance Pilot Program" on November 30. This initiative aims to further realize the medical integration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Collective Efforts by the Three Governments
The Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area proposes to explore the cross-border land transport of non-urgent and non-critical patients and to investigate pilot programs for cross-border referral cooperation in designated public hospitals.
The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address also highlighted the need to explore arrangements for ambulance transport of patients across borders between hospitals in the Greater Bay Area.
With the strong support and guidance of several national ministries, along with collaborative efforts from the three governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, the pilot program has officially launched, marking a new phase in high-quality medical cooperation and development within the Greater Bay Area, responding to the long-standing aspirations of residents in the region.
Transportation Mechanism
The first phase of the pilot program will implement cross-border direct ambulance services, with designated delivery hospitals in Shenzhen and Macau (specifically, the University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital and the Conde de São Januário General Hospital) transporting patients to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong.
Under this mechanism, patients assessed and approved by the designated cross-border collaboration hospital team can be transported between specified hospitals in a "point-to-point" manner, meeting specific clinical conditions, without needing to transfer ambulances at the border, thus reducing the risks during transportation.
Due to varying patient situations and medical needs, the doctors from the delivery hospitals will evaluate each case based on clinical diagnoses and the patient’s actual condition to determine if cross-border transfer for ongoing treatment or rehabilitation services is necessary. The doctors will communicate with the Hospital Authority's Major Incident Control Center to jointly assess the case, exchange information, and coordinate decisions on whether to activate the transport mechanism.
Close Cooperation and Preparedness
The Hong Kong SAR Government has been actively discussing and closely cooperating with the governments of Guangdong and Macau on arrangements for cross-border direct ambulance transport. To prepare, the three governments conducted a total of three drills in August and October of this year to test the cross-border arrangements for simulating the transport of patients.
The pilot program includes mechanisms to prevent misuse and ensure the safety of cross-border transport. Delivery hospitals and receiving hospitals will also ensure that the patient’s relatives and/or the patient have consented to the arrangements and are aware of the associated risks of transportation.
The three governments will consider expanding the program based on the effectiveness and operational experience of the pilot program.
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