Hong Kong Hospital Authority: Streamlining procedures and strengthening equipment procurement is expected to save at least HK$1 billion in expenses.

The Hospital Authority of Hong Kong stated that in the past two years, by streamlining administrative procedures, strengthening the procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, and energy management measures through the application of information technology, operational performance and efficiency have been improved, with initial estimates suggesting savings of at least HK$1 billion. Among them, the procurement of medical equipment has introduced more suppliers to promote price and quality competition, including suppliers from mainland China and overseas, as well as implementing more centralized procurement to reduce overall procurement expenses by at least 10%. The Hospital Authority of Hong Kong also stated that the expenditure for the procurement and maintenance of medical equipment for the fiscal year 2023-24 reached HK$5.7 billion. The authority has also established a "cost assessment group", referring to scientific research data and mainland China's medical insurance prices, negotiating with pharmaceutical companies. As a result, 70% of pharmaceutical companies are willing to lower prices, especially for cancer drugs, with an average reduction of up to 20%. The number of drug procurement tenders has also increased from 1200 to 1400, with the lowest bidder winning the contract, while ensuring safety, quality, and efficacy. Furthermore, more non-original or generic drug sources have been developed, actively contacting mainland China and overseas pharmaceutical companies to introduce new technological drugs, providing patients with more choices. In addition, the Hong Kong Hospital Authority has recently been using artificial intelligence to generate medical reports and discharge reports, reducing document processing time by 40% and workload by over 30% compared to manual processing. However, it is emphasized that all reports will be reviewed by a doctor before being formally issued. As for complex clinical judgments, they fall within the professional domain of doctors, and artificial intelligence cannot replace them. Additionally, the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong uses an artificial intelligence risk warning system to forecast patient risks, develop targeted treatment plans, improve treatment effectiveness, and shorten hospital stays. Regarding energy, the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong has already saved 7% of energy consumption in 2023, surpassing the initial goal of 5%. In recent years, they have continued to implement energy-saving measures through innovative technologies, such as using CECEP Solar Energy, hydrogen, and landfill gas power generation, as well as using energy-saving electrical appliances, with the goal of reducing electricity consumption by approximately 20% by 2035.