DIRECT cross-border ambulance transfer service between Shenzhen and Hong Kong will be available this month, multiple media outlets reported.

During a recent second mock drill for the service, a “patient” was transported by an ambulance bearing licensed plates from both cities across the border. The transfer from the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital to Tuen Mun Hospital in Hong Kong was successfully completed in 52 minutes.

Previously, patients referred to hospitals in Hong Kong for further treatment had to switch to a Hong Kong ambulance at border checkpoints to enter the city, which not only posed unnecessary risks but also wasted time.

Hong Kong Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau said that the service is anticipated to manage dozens of cases within the first year. Plans are in place to extend the service to include more hospitals and routes based on the outcomes and assessment of the trial phase.

Mainland and Macao doctors accompanying patients in the ambulance will be granted limited practice rights in Hong Kong under amendments to the city’s Medical Registration Ordinance. Upon reaching the border of Hong Kong, these doctors will be allowed to continue providing medical care to patients en route to the receiving hospital.

Lo emphasized that this service will be offered only to patients who require immediate cross-border transfer for treatment or rehabilitation. Authorities will also evaluate if alternative transportation methods are suitable for the patients and whether road transportation could significantly impact their health conditions.

The transfer service will also cater to non-Hong Kong patients.

In 2023, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee mentioned in his policy address that his administration was working with Guangdong provincial authorities to explore the possibility of cross-border ambulance services. (SD News)