MOP700 medical vouchers to include Guangdong clinics starting June

[Photo: Yuki Lei]

Macau’s 17-year-old Healthcare Subsidy Scheme has met expectations, authorities said, announcing that the subsidy amount will remain at MOP700, with this year’s vouchers available for use starting next month and coverage expanded to include clinics and outpatient departments in Guangdong.

The Executive Council (ExCo) has concluded its deliberations on the draft administrative regulation for this year’s medical subsidy program, Executive Council spokesperson and Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak announced at a press conference yesterday. The program will run for two years, from June 1 this year to May 31, 2028, with all individuals holding a valid Macau permanent resident ID card as of May 31, 2027, eligible to receive the subsidy.

Residents may use the medical vouchers by presenting their ID card or accessing the “Macao One Account” platform when seeking medical treatment. Additionally, residents may transfer all or part of their medical vouchers to their spouse, parents, or children who also hold permanent resident ID cards.

A total of MOP520.3 million in medical subsidies has been allocated, Wong announced, while also noting that Macau residents will be able to use this year’s and any remaining 2025 medical vouchers in Guangdong Province starting next month via the “Macao One Account” platform. However, Macau medical professionals already enrolled in the program will only receive vouchers if they comply with Guangdong regulations and practice at clinics or outpatient departments established by Macau residents through sole or joint investment.

There are 21 clinics or outpatient departments in Guangdong that are wholly or jointly owned by Macau residents – including 12 clinics and nine outpatient departments – with 15 of these facilities located in the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, comprising seven clinics and eight outpatient departments. Authorities added that while 15 clinics were originally expected to be registered by Macau residents, only one is currently operating.

Although authorities did not specify that the move was intended to integrate into the national strategy of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area – whose core objective is to promote moderate economic diversification – Wong stated: “This is to implement national policies, respond to public demands, and support the development of the industry.”

During the press briefing, Health Bureau director Alvis Lo noted that when using the medical voucher system outside Macau, users must present an electronic ID from the “Macao One Account” and scan the corresponding QR code to enhance traceability and ensure the service is “actually being used by the individual.” He added that over the 17-year history of the program, 20 medical institutions have had their eligibility revoked due to violations.

Lo also acknowledged the effectiveness of the subsidy program, stating that the government believes the overall results in terms of decentralizing medical resources have met expectations. The program’s primary objectives, he noted, include subsidizing residents’ medical expenses and supporting the healthcare industry.

Lo further explained that the government has strengthened chronic disease screening efforts, including launching a chronic disease screening program that integrates self-service checkpoints into the SSM “Healthy Communities” initiative and related resources. In less than a year, the initiative identified 1,900 new hypertension cases among residents who had previously gone undiagnosed.

New medical device classification system takes effect in July

Meanwhile, the new legal framework governing the registration, listing, and business activities related to medical devices will take effect in July, along with its implementing rules, according to yesterday’s government press briefing. The regulations will specify application requirements and procedures for medical device manufacturing and operating licenses, with a one-stop licensing platform hosted on the “Business & Association Platform.”

The regulations also establish an Advisory Committee on Medical Device Evaluation, comprising at least 11 professionals serving renewable three-year terms. The committee will provide technical opinions on medical device registration applications at the request of the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF).

The committee covers six major fields: active medical devices, passive medical devices, in vitro diagnostic reagents, clinical trials and biostatistics, biomedical engineering, and medical software. Members include representatives from the Health Bureau, China’s National Medical Products Administration, Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau, and academic institutions.