Rising medical expenses challenge GBA resident’s health aspirations, survey finds

On the Agenda

A recent published survey by Prudential Hong Kong Limited highlights that an alarming 98% of Macau residents are concerned about achieving medical freedom, surpassing the Greater Bay Area (GBA) average of 94%. The findings shed light on the pressing issues of rising medical costs, limited access to quality healthcare, and an inadequate medical network.

Conducted in May 2024, the survey gathered responses from 750 individuals, aged 18 to 54, through online questionnaires and street interviews. Among the participants, 300 were from Hong Kong, 300 from mainland GBA cities – including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai – and 150 from Macau.

The survey reveals that achieving medical freedom in Macau is estimated to cost residents approximately MOP5.6 million, which equates to about 16 years of household income. This financial burden poses a significant challenge, with 55% of respondents citing high medical costs as their foremost concern. In comparison, GBA residents estimate the cost of medical freedom at around MOP4.7 million (RMB4.2 million) and MOP6.9 million (HKD6.7 million), reflecting about 10 years of household income.

Notably, 86% of GBA respondents define medical freedom as the ability to choose medical resources freely, while 85% associate it with receiving prompt and adequate medical aid. In contrast, Macau residents express a strong desire for services such as traditional Chinese medicine and second medical opinions. However, respectively, only 33%, 29%, and 17% of the insurance plans of these residents cover these services, significantly lower than coverage levels in mainland China and Hong Kong. Additionally, despite a high demand for cross-border medical services, only 44% of Macau residents’ medical plans provide such coverage.

Edward Dai, General Manager of Prudential’s Macau Branch, emphasized the ongoing challenges residents face in achieving true medical freedom. “While government subsidies have improved access to public healthcare, significant obstacles remain,” he stated. “With rising medical inflation and considerable gaps in local medical coverage, residents encounter numerous challenges in realizing medical freedom, with an alarming 98% expressing concerns.”

In response to these challenges, Prudential’s new plan aims to enhance healthcare access in Macau by providing comprehensive coverage that includes outpatient care and telemedicine services. This initiative seeks to alleviate some of the financial pressures and improve the overall healthcare experience for residents. NS