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4.1. THE VOICES OF LOCAL HEALTHCARE
EXPERTS
The unique perspectives of key stakeholders in Hong Kong’s health system are important in
identifying the key challenges and feasible ways forward for a health system transformation.
In view of this, OHKF and the Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research of The Jockey
Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University
of Hong Kong (CUHK-JCSPHPC) conducted a series of in-person interviews with key
stakeholders in the local health system to better grasp the most urgent and pertinent issues
in Hong Kong’s health system, and in particular, their views on our strategic purchasing
proposal, including their attitude and perception towards the proposal, the availability of
resources, considerations for successful implementation, and the potential impact of the
proposal. The interviewees came from an expansive range of decision-making roles and
positions, including policymakers, government officials, front-line service providers from both
public and private sectors, leaders from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), corporate
players from the insurance sector, patient group representatives, and academics with
medical and social expertise (Table 4.1). Discussions mainly revolved around five critical
themes: health system fragmentation, health financing, PHC development, strategic
purchasing, and the proposed Scheme as a principal recommendation of this policy report
(Table 4.2).
4.1.1 THE INTERVIEWEES
A total of 27 key stakeholders took part in interviews that were jointly completed by OHKF
and CUHK-JCSPHPC between April and August 2020. The stakeholders consisted of 15 key
stakeholders from 13 institutions (Table 4.1) and 12 PHC service providers in solo or group
practices at NGOs, the District Health Centre (DHC), general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) of
the Hospital Authority (HA) and private medical institutions. All interviews were recorded and
transcribed verbatim in their conducted languages (and translated where necessary) by
independent contractors. Two primary researchers and two assistant researchers were
involved in coding and conducting a thematisation of the transcripts involving cross-checking
and discussion. The interviews strictly followed standards under the ethical approval of the
Survey and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee of the CUHK (Reference number:
SBRE-19-117), and verbal/written consent was sought from all interviewees.
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