TY - JOUR T1 - Primary care in Hong Kong: a lesson about competition JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 142 LP - 143 DO - 10.3399/bjgp10X483373 VL - 60 IS - 571 AU - Steve Iliffe AU - Jean Woo AU - Cindy Lam AU - Joyce T'ang Y1 - 2010/02/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/60/571/142.abstract N2 - GPs in Britain viewing the growth of competition often use US primary care as the case study of the consequences of letting the market shape medical practice. There is another example from a place that was, until relatively recently, under British jurisdiction; Hong Kong.Primary care in Hong Kong is provided from at least six distinct sources: The government-run hospitals provide general outpatient clinics (GOPCs) and accident and emergency (A&E) departments, to which patients can self-refer. Patients are charged for consultations, but the charge includes medication costs.Private GPs are numerous. They provide the majority of primary care consultations, tend to work alone, and charge fees that also include medication costs. Although most patients still pay cash, insurance policies are becoming more common, and about 40% of working age citizens have some insurance/employer subsidy for medical care.Private group practices, which in some ways are like health maintenance organisations (HMOs), have developed; some are run by international companies like BUPA and Blue Cross, and others by local organisations.The third sector, non-government organisations among which the churches are major stakeholders, is the main provider of social care. It is very much locality-based, and it's connections with GPs and specialists gives it some features of a community-oriented primary care movement. It too has … ER -