It has always been the Government's fundamental philosophy that no one will be denied adequate medical care due to lack of means. Recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) are waived from payment of their public health care expenses. To assist the three vulnerable groups in the community, i.e., the low income group, chronically ill patients and elderly patients who have little income or assets, but who are not CSSA recipients, the Hospital Authority has put in place a medical fee waiver mechanism to provide effective protection from undue financial burden to them.

Non-CSSA recipients who could not afford medical fees can apply for a fee waiver at the medical social services unit of public hospitals and clinics. The medical social workers would assess the application with due consideration given to the financial, social and medical condition of the applicants on a household basis.

Please click here to access to Hospital Authority's website for more information on medical fee waiver mechanism.