Hospital Authority Extends Free Body Storage to 28 Days After Fee Backlash

Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority (HA) has revised its plan to introduce charges for mortuary services in public hospitals following backlash, extending the free storage period from three to 28 days.

The HA published a list of revised administrative fees on October 31, which will take effect next year. The changes include charges for mortuary storage, which is currently free in public hospitals.

According to the initial announcement last month, only the first three days of storage would remain free, after which fees were to be applied, rising incrementally to as much as HK$550 from day 34.

However, the HA said in a statement on Saturday that it would extend the free storage period to 28 days after “prudent consideration.”

“This adjustment aims to alleviate public concerns, ensuring that the new charge arrangement achieves the goal of effective utilisation of public resources while reflecting care and compassion for bereaved families,” an HA spokesperson said.

Under the revised fee arrangements, the HA will charge HK$200 per day from day 29, and HK$550 per day from day 36 onwards.

Alleviating overcrowding in mortuaries

The HA’s latest announcement was issued following public criticism, including from the funeral industry, about the initial fee structure.

Cheng Chi-kit, the head of the Funeral Business Association, said on a radio programme last week that it would normally take around 20 days before a family could transfer the deceased from the public hospital mortuary to a funeral home or other burial venues due to administrative needs.

Families also need to apply for a death certificate and cremation service, and the relevant government departments require time to process applications, he said.

The process could take even longer when public holidays like Christmas and the Lunar New Year are taken into account, Cheng added.

According to the Saturday statement, the HA has already been processing death certificate applications “as quickly as possible,” with 99 per cent issued within seven working days.

Still, the average storage duration of bodies in its mortuaries has increased over the years, with approximately 10 per cent of bodies stored for over a month, it wrote.

The introduction of the mortuary charge is aimed at encouraging families to collect deceased bodies and arrange funerals sooner, thereby alleviating overcrowding in public hospital mortuaries, the HA said.

The new charges for mortuary storage are part of the HA’s public healthcare fee reform, aimed at improving the financial sustainability of the city’s medical services.

The Hong Kong government announced in March that, starting next year, it would charge non-critical patients HK$400 for accident and emergency services at public hospitals, up from HK$180, as well as raise prices for consultations and medicines in outpatient clinics.

Key Details of the Revised Mortuary Fee Structure

• Free Storage Period: Extended from 3 days to 28 days.
• Charges After Free Period:
• HK$200 per day from day 29.
• HK$550 per day from day 36 onwards.
• Purpose of the Charges: To encourage families to collect deceased bodies more promptly, reducing overcrowding in mortuaries.

Public Concerns and Industry Response

The initial proposal faced significant public backlash, particularly from the funeral industry. Key concerns included:

• The original plan would have charged families after just three days of free storage.
• Families often require more time to complete necessary administrative tasks, such as applying for death certificates and arranging cremation services.
• Delays can occur during public holidays, further complicating the process.

Funeral industry representatives highlighted that the typical time required to move a body from a hospital mortuary to a funeral home is around 20 days, which is why the extension to 28 days is seen as a positive adjustment.

Government's Broader Healthcare Reform

The HA’s decision to implement charges for mortuary services is part of a larger initiative to reform public healthcare fees. This includes:

• Increasing charges for accident and emergency services from HK$180 to HK$400 for non-critical patients.
• Raising prices for consultations and medicines in outpatient clinics.

These changes are intended to ensure the long-term financial stability of Hong Kong’s public healthcare system while maintaining access to essential services.

Impact on Mortuary Operations

Despite the new charges, the HA has emphasized its commitment to processing death certificate applications efficiently. It reported that 99% of applications are issued within seven working days.

However, the average storage duration of bodies in mortuaries has increased over the years, with about 10% of bodies remaining in storage for more than a month. The HA believes that the new fee structure will help reduce this trend by encouraging quicker action from families.