"Which Place Has Better Healthcare: Hong Kong, the U.S., or Mainland China?"
Introduction:
Everyone gets sick. Let's hear the perspectives on healthcare in Hong Kong, the U.S., and Mainland China from top medical investors, and where is the best place to go for different situations?
Most importantly: Where is the best place to go in extreme cases with tricky illnesses?
The results may be counterintuitive.
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I had a conversation with an investor who has been in the healthcare sector for many years. He has focused on the medical field for years, is very familiar with cutting-edge medicine in the U.S., and is originally from Hong Kong. He has also invested early in several major pharmaceutical companies in Mainland China (which later listed in Hong Kong). With a mindset of learning, I discussed some questions that ordinary people are most interested in:
How do the healthcare levels in Hong Kong and Mainland China compare? Which is "better"?
How does the healthcare level and service in the U.S. compare?
His answers were somewhat counterintuitive and likely very different from what you might imagine.
1. Different Models in Hong Kong and Mainland China
Let me introduce this first.
In Hong Kong, healthcare generally starts with a visit to a clinic. Outpatient visits usually cost a few hundred dollars, but clinics can only handle very minor and simple issues. There are no IV drips or antibiotics administered here; it’s more like asking AI a question and then buying some medicine yourself.
Clinics are usually quite busy, and you have to queue up first. If the clinic cannot resolve your issue, the doctor will give you a referral letter (which may not be called that) to go to a major hospital. I have a friend who got a fishbone stuck in his throat; he had to wait for an ambulance the whole time, then went from the clinic to the hospital, where someone was already waiting for him. The hospital had a green light all the way, and the nurses and doctors were professional, enthusiastic, and attentive, even arranging meals for him.
Sounds like a great experience, right? But actually, I heard from an Uber driver who said that he had a friend who broke his arm. When he arrived at the hospital, they gave him a triage queue number, and since he wasn’t the most urgent case, he had to wait for several hours, which was quite uncomfortable. He initially thought about trying to get ahead in line, but when he saw others with serious injuries, he felt it was inappropriate to complain.
So, the biggest issue is queuing and waiting.
Private hospitals are much better—however, the problem is that there are many wealthy people now, and if you go to a private hospital for an emergency, you will still find a lot of people.
But if you make an appointment, it’s much better. If you have a chronic illness that isn’t particularly urgent, you can take your time. Just make an appointment, and when it’s your turn, you will have ample time to communicate with the doctor, maximizing emotional value.
2. Mainland China
This is familiar to everyone, so I won’t elaborate.
For example, some top-tier hospitals have comprehensive mini-programs that handle everything from insurance use to registration, payment, and report viewing—all managed through mini-programs. When you get to the hospital, the doctors can resolve issues quickly.
The emotional value is zero; it’s a highly efficient system designed for 1.3 billion people.
3. Comparison Between Hong Kong, Mainland China, and the U.S.
Which is better? It really depends on the dimension you are considering.
If you want efficiency, Mainland China wins hands down; if you want service, once you get in line, Hong Kong is unbeatable.
However, in the AI era, most people may not care as much about these things. For minor issues, how they are resolved—whether early or late—is not the key.
Next, let’s discuss an extreme situation: if you encounter a complex and tricky problem, where would you choose to seek medical care?
This was exactly the question I asked him. I thought the answer would be Hong Kong, but his answer was Mainland China.
He said that while the doctors in Hong Kong are highly skilled and the medical equipment is excellent, if it’s a very tricky issue that might require surgery, he would definitely choose Mainland China. His logic is simple:
The volume of surgeries and the variety of cases faced by doctors in Mainland China may far exceed those in Hong Kong, leading to greater proficiency. He mentioned that a well-known figure went to Guangzhou for surgery, which was very successful, and even donated a building to the hospital there.
However, if a very rare disease has already been diagnosed and there are no particularly good solutions in either Mainland China or Hong Kong, one should definitely go to the U.S. because it has the most cutting-edge technology. Some treatments may take 10 to 20 years to mature and be approved for introduction to Hong Kong and Mainland China, so going there offers a chance to try.
4. Simple Summary and Reflections
- The pressure on doctors and nurses in China is truly immense.
There was a news story about a female nurse who developed cancer and was denied leave, as the system required her to be hospitalized before approval. It was heartbreaking to see.
Another story was about a marathon champion who couldn’t get approval for a leave request before a competition.
Their daily work involves multiple shifts, which is really tough. A few years ago, there were professional medical troublemakers who specifically targeted doctors.
In the context of such high work intensity, the income is not particularly high, especially for nurses and others.
Therefore, I truly respect all healthcare workers from the bottom of my heart. As the saying goes, saving a life is worth more than building a seven-story pagoda; we should all be more understanding of healthcare personnel.
China is vast, and many dedicated doctors and teachers live difficult lives. In the future, it would be great if capable individuals could establish reward funds for them (this is a big issue, and my personal ability is limited, so I can’t make much of an impact).
- The best doctor may be yourself.
On one hand, focus on a healthy lifestyle: go to bed early, wake up early, and ensure you get enough sleep.
On the other hand, enhance your intake of supplements. I will take the time to write a detailed post so you can understand it all in one go.
Additionally, be adept at using AI. AI is truly the most patient and professional doctor, but make sure to use multiple AIs to cross-verify information, and try to avoid using domestic platforms like Doubao for medical inquiries, as they often pull in garbage and incorrect information. Use Google and ChatGPT more; after comparing a few times, you will see how significant the differences are in medical information.
Finally, I wish all the friends reading this and your families good health!
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