New round of medical vouchers set to be available next month

The Executive Council (ExCo) announced yesterday that the MOP700 electronic healthcare subsidy for each eligible Macau resident, initially outlined in the 2025 Policy Address, will be available starting June 1 and valid until May 31, 2027.

Legislator Ron Lam questioned the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, O Lam, during a Legislative Assembly session last Thursday about the delay in issuing the new round of healthcare subsidies, which had not been distributed by May 1 as in previous years. He criticized the authorities for their inconsistent policies, asking: “Why hasn’t it been done this year? When will it be?”

However, the Secretary, who was present to respond, did not address the issue at that time.

Yesterday morning, the ExCo issued a press release, rather than holding a press conference as in the past, announcing that discussions on the draft bill for the 2025 Healthcare Subsidy Scheme were complete – with the regulation set to take effect on June 1 this year.

According to the statement, the total subsidy for the two-year period amounts to about MOP519.68 million. As in previous years, individuals holding a valid permanent Macau ID card as of May 31, 2026, will be able to use medical vouchers for treatment at participating medical centers in the scheme by presenting their ID card or the Macao One Account.

Additionally, medical vouchers can be fully or partially transferred to the holder’s spouse, parents, or children who also possess a permanent Macau ID card.

The bill stipulates that the 2025 Healthcare Subsidy Scheme will also apply to the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Participating medical personnel can receive medical vouchers when providing services at clinics established by Macau residents through individual or joint investment, as long as they comply with relevant mainland regulations.

This measure, as noted in the statement, aims to “accelerate the development of the cooperation zone and further enhance the integration between Macau and Hengqin.”

ëSpace oilí bill for

urgent consideration

Also yesterday morning, the ExCo announced that it has completed the draft amendment to Law No. 17/2009, “Prohibition of Unlawful Production, Trafficking and Consuming of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances,” and will submit it to the Legislative Assembly (AL) for urgent consideration.

The bill proposes to include 20 internationally controlled substances, approved by the Narcotics Control Committee last year but not yet regulated under the anti-drug law, into the schedule. Of these, two are narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, while the remaining 18 are precursors used in drug manufacture.

“Etomidate, a general anesthetic intended solely for hospital use, is not permitted for market circulation, with Macau currently detecting four related cases. The other three substances have not yet been detected in any cases to date,” the ExCo stated.

The draft law aims to impose legislative control due to the recent emergence of four new types of drugs – etomidate, methoxetamine, propofol, and isopropyl propofol – in neighboring regions, significantly increasing the risk of abuse in Macau.