Gov’t to launch health mini-program with real-time waiting times

[Photo: Yuki Lei]

The Health Bureau (SSM) will launch a mini-program in the fourth quarter offering real-time waiting times, queue numbers, navigation, online registration and electronic payment, director Alvis Lo said, as part of measures to improve the patient experience.

The ninth session of the public forum held by the Social Affairs and Culture portfolio was held Tuesday evening, with Secretary O Lam leading heads of multiple entities under her portfolio. The government previewed and introduced a number of new convenience measures, including a “Visit Easy” mini-program to be launched in the fourth quarter of this year.

The mini-program will integrate waiting times, queue numbers, information on nearby medical institutions and navigation, and will offer online registration and electronic payment. It will also add guided consultation services, AI clinics, a “Care Service Registration” function on the Macao One Account platform, and vibrating pagers.

The government is also advancing the “Three Links” electronic health platform, Hengqin-Macau connectivity, an expert database, remote consultations, self-service kiosks and cross-border medical record matching to make medical visits safer and more convenient for residents.

Addressing the gathering, the SSM director said the measures cover pre-visit booking and registration, connections during visits and post-visit follow-up, using technology to deliver “warm” services. He noted that first-visit waiting times at public services have been maintained at about three weeks, significantly shorter than before, with emergency waits averaging about an hour.

The authorities said public and private medical institutions have achieved mutual patient referral, and that the “My Health” electronic health platform under the Macao One Account system now fully connects residents’ consultation data, enabling the sharing of examination records and medical information and reducing duplicate visits and tests.

They also revealed that the electronic health record platform is preparing to connect with mainland medical institutions, with the mainland side to apply for access. Once conditions are in place, Macau residents will be able to view examination reports and medication records from the mainland on the “My Health” platform after returning to Macau.