Rational rationing of health services: aninnovative approach for charging andfinancing health services in Hong Kong

Priority setting and rationing of health services has been adopted in many countries in North America, Australasia, and Europe.1-3 In Asia, however, most countries have not yet embarked on such strategies. In Hong Kong, institutions under the Hospital Authority provide Hong Kong residents a comprehensive range of secondary and tertiary care at a heavily subsidised rate. Over 90% of the Hospital Authority’s income is from the government’s general revenue. Patients in public hospitals pay a fixed per diem fee (approximately US$8 per day) that covers less than 2% of the actual average cost of a patient day in an acute public hospital..