Total joint replacement surgeries: Making the case for a public–private partnership in Hong Kong

With the increased demand for health services given the growing ageing population and the reduced volume of elective operations performed due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, a public–private partnership for total joint replacement surgeries in Hong Kong may be a solution to these challenges. By contracting out a proportion of operations to the private sector, this can relieve pressure on the public system and allow for progression towards allocative efficiency. The public sector would benefit from a reduced case load while the private sector may enjoy increased profits from a larger volume of operations. This reform may also reduce long waiting times for surgeries, thus benefitting patients and health outcomes. The inclusion of price controls and government subsidies ensures that the reform remains equitable. As Hong Kong has had success with similar initiatives, this partnership would be a practical approach to address some of the city's most pressing health issues today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of World Medical & Health Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)