An analytical paper: the impact of non-entitled pregnant women on Hong Kong healthcare system and the wayforward

Abstract

Background: Medical tourism is arising in Asian countries and in Hong Kong, the maternal tourism is evolving due to the influx of non-entitled pregnant women from mainland China for deliveries. The visitors were attracted not only by the technical advancement of Hong Kong healthcare system, but its special administrative background which grants the babies with a permanent resident identity as well as the citizenship benefits regardless to their parental status. Besides, the parents could avoid penalties from the "One Child Policy" in China.

With the limited healthcare resources, non-local mothers started to compete with the local mothers for obstetric services. The community raised their concerns in developing of maternity tourism and verbalised their demands in protecting local rights and equity to resources.

Aims and Objectives: There are limited published researches available on maternal tourism or the specific situation faced by Hong Kong. By analysing grey literature, this paper would like to suggest the impact exerted on the healthcare system by the influx of non-eligible mothers with a medical tourism framework.

Results: The impact of non-local-mother deliveries on healthcare system were discussed in the areas of governance, delivery, financing, human resources and regulation. Future research could be done on assessing the priorities in the framework components and the direction, effectiveness of the management strategies for non-entitled deliveries.