ABSTRACT
This chapter examines why the Hong Kong government was unable to reform the health care financing system notwithstanding repeated attempts. Having looked at health care financing reforms through the lens of historical institutionalism, this chapter shows that the complex interplay of forces, namely political institutions, policy feedback, interests, ideas and contextual influence, impeded the government from implementing health care financing reforms at different stages. It explains health care financing reforms during the transition period, the Tung administration and the Tsang administration and views of different stakeholders on different health care financing options. The chapter focuses the views of citizens, civil servants, social workers, insurance consultants, medical professionals, a former Legco member, a former member of the Public Complaints Committee of the Hospital Authority (HA), scholars and a government official on the proposed HPS. The concluding section of the chapter summarizes the findings using the theory of historical institutionalism.
