Palliative Care for Cancer and Critical Illness in Hong Kong

The word palliative is derived from the Latin word “pallium” meaning cloak or covering. In medical setting, palliative care aims to alleviate the symptoms of disease without necessarily offering a cure. When facing the end of life, patients and their families often endure immense physical and mental stress. Palliative care is designed to provide support and care during this difficult journey, allowing patients to peacefully complete the final stage of their lives. This article will provide a detailed introduction to palliative care services in Hong Kong, including the target recipients, scope of services, service models, and fees, to help everyone better understand this important medical support. 

What is Palliative Care? 

 When cancer progresses to a terminal stage despite multiple lines of treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy, palliative care becomes an appropriate consideration. According to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, palliative care is a holistic treatment that comprehensively addresses the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients. Its aim is to improve the quality of life for patients with serious, life-threatening, and life-limiting illnesses and to provide support for their families. 

The care team is usually composed of multidisciplinary professionals, including doctors, nurses, medical social workers, clinical psychologists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, who collaborate to provide comprehensive care for patients. 

Target Recipients of Palliative Care 

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports show chronic diseases drive most palliative care needs, led by cardiovascular disease (38.5%) and cancer (34%). Up to 80% of terminal AIDS or cancer patients endure moderate to severe pain, and palliative care effectively addresses improving comfort during the final stage of life. 

 The main target recipients of palliative care are: 

• Cancer patients with advanced cancer 

• Critically ill patients 

• Patients with incurable diseases
  

Palliative care has long since evolved beyond just end-of-life patients. Although cancer patients remain the primary recipients, it now also covers other chronic diseases such as kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), neurological disorders, and more. Palliative care can be considered early at any stage where symptom relief is needed and provided alongside other treatments. 

Scope of Palliative Care Services 

The scope of palliative care is broad, encompassing the following aspects: 

1. Medical Care & Treatment

Includes alleviating discomfort, preventing and treating complications, improving the patient's mobility, and maintaining their self-care abilities. 

2. Emotional Support 

Provides psychological counselling for patients and their families to relieve psychological stress and distress; assists patients in facing fears; and promotes effective communication and understanding between patients, families, and the healthcare team. Offers various religious services to patients in need, providing spiritual care; provides bereavement counselling for families after a patient's death to help them navigate the grieving process and regain strength and hope for life. 

3. Daily Life Support 

Provides practical financial and community assistance. 

Modes of Palliative Care and Target Patient Groups 

• Inpatient Care: Involves consultation by a multidisciplinary team. Suitable for patients who are medically unstable or have complex conditions. 

• Outpatient Clinic: Designed for patients requiring specialised palliative treatment, including those discharged from hospital but needing ongoing palliative care. 

• Day Care Service: Provided by an interdisciplinary team to manage distressing symptoms, enhance quality of life, and reduce avoidable hospital admissions. Appropriate for patients with symptoms from chronic conditions (e.g., breathlessness, fatigue) and those needing repeated interventional procedures (e.g., ascites drainage, blood transfusions). 

• Home Care Service: Delivers care in the patient's residence through scheduled home visits. Provides guidance and support to families caring for the patient. Intended for patients too frail to attend outpatient clinics, those discharged but requiring continued palliative care, or individuals needing more intensive symptom monitoring and nursing than outpatient services provide. 

Service Providers and Fees in Public and Private Setting 

Public Institutions 

All seven clusters under the Hospital Authority provide palliative care services for patients with critical illnesses. Service fees are determined according to the standard charges set by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority. 

Private Institutions 

Several nursing homes and social welfare organizations in Hong Kong also offer palliative care, including Haven of Hope Sister Annie Skau Holistic Care Centre, Jockey Club Home for Hospice, the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society Jockey Club Cancer Rehabilitation Centre, HKSKH Holy Carpenter Church, The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. 

The service fees below reference three self-financed institutions (Jockey Club Home for Hospice, Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society Jockey Club Cancer Rehabilitation Centre, and Haven of Hope Jockey Club Shatin Hospice). Actual fees are subject to the latest published rates of respective institutions. 

• Accommodation Fees: Daily rents range from $420 to $2300. Monthly rents start from $25000 and can exceed $81000. Short-term accommodation charges are calculated every 5 days, starting from $9,600. 

• Guest overnight stays fees: Charges per person per night start from $100 to $220, or a monthly fee starting from $3,200. 

• Other services: Pre-admission assessment fees, doctor rounds fees, nursing fees, meal fees, and other charges are billed separately on an itemised basis. 

These institutions provide subsidised services for those with financial difficulties. 

Walk with Love and Dignity 

Palliative care is not just a medical service; it is an attitude of caring for life. In Hong Kong, both public and private institutions are committed to providing tailored support for patients and their families. If you or your loved ones are facing serious illness, consider discussing palliative care options with your attending physician to navigate life’s final journey with greater peace. 

References

1. Hospital Authority: Palliative Care Service. (2025) Retrieved 23 June 2025 from https://www.ha.org.hk/visitor/ha_visitor_index.asp?Content_ID=10096&Lang=ENG&Dimension=100&Parent_ID=10085&Ver=HTML 
2. 醫院管理局, (2025) 甚麼是紓緩治療服務. Retrieved 23 June 2025 from https://www.ha.org.hk/haho/ho/snp/palliative_sv_tc.pdf 
3. 醫院管理局, (2025) 家居紓緩治療服務. Retrieved 23 June 2025 from https://www.ha.org.hk/haho/ho/snp/pallia_pamphlet_tc.pdf 
4. 醫院管理局, (2025) 為患有危疾重症的病人提供各類紓緩治療服務的轉介準則. Retrieved 23 June 2025 from https://www.ha.org.hk/haho/ho/hacp/121580c.pdf 
5. Consumer Council. (2021). Approach end of life with calm and ease: Understand the 3 main aspects of hospice care. Retrieved 23 June 2025 from https://www.consumer.org.hk/en/shopping-guide/tips/2021-tips-palliative-care-services 
6. 消費者委員會, (2020) 細選寧養服務 助晚期病人渡餘生 . Retrieved 23 June 2025 from https://www.consumer.org.hk/tc/article/530-palliative-care-services/530_palliative_table#tab