Eligibility Criteria


To be eligible for financial assistance, the patient must be an Hospital Authority (HA) patient and fulfill all of the following requirements.

(a)
Clinical requirement
 
Non-drug items: The patient's need for the item must be supported by a HA doctor or an allied health professional* in accordance with the prevailing clinical guidelines of the HA.

Drug items: The patient's treatment plan must be signed / issued by a designated doctor of HA as stipulated under the prevailing clinical guidelines.
(b)
Identity requirement
 

The patient must be an "Eligible Person" within the meaning of the latest relevant government gazette published under the HA Ordinance.

OR

The patient must be a permanent resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region according to the Immigration Ordinance (for specific ultra-expensive drugs^).


(c)
Financial condition requirement#    
 

The patient must pass a "household-based" financial assessment conducted by Medical Social Workers (MSWs).

* Privately purchased medical items that can be referred by allied health professionals include prosthesis, appliances for prosthetic and orthotic services, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services, and specified home use equipment and appliances.

^ For details of specific ultra-expensive drugs, please refer to the page of ''Items supported by the Samaritan Fund''.

# For the application of specific ultra-expensive drugs, if patient / applicant has reviewed patient household’s disposable financial resources and understands the financial assessment criteria of the Programme, and he/she agrees to pay for the maximum contribution amount (i.e. HK$1 million) for the concerned application, then he/she does not need to submit the documents required for financial assessment to the MSWs. Having said that, he/she is required to sign an agreement during the application, which states that he/she agrees to settle the maximum contribution amount. Approved subsidies would be provided for the drug treatment upon settlement of the maximum contribution amount. Such arrangement would be subjected to review by the HA.