Promoting Medical Integration in the Greater Bay Area: Expansion of Guangzhou-Hong Kong Direct Ambulance Services, Amber Medical Highlights Safety Protocols for Medical Transfers

(Photo from wenweipo)

Recently, the pilot scheme for direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer between Guangzhou and Hong Kong has been expanded, enabling fast customs clearance and transfer between designated hospitals. This initiative not only represents a significant step toward healthcare integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area but also effectively enhances the safety and efficiency of cross-border patient transfers, fostering full collaboration and complementarity of medical resources between the two regions.

As an industry representative in private ambulance and medical transfer services, Amber Medical expresses full support for and expects to actively cooperate with the implementation of related policies. Currently, we provide cross-border transfer services for patients between the two regions on a daily basis, with a cumulative total of over 500 cases. We have particularly accumulated extensive experience in "northbound transfers." Our Hong Kong-licensed ambulances efficiently coordinate with mainland non-emergency medical transfer ambulances approved by the Guangdong Provincial Health Commission. Through a "vehicle-to-vehicle" handover at border checkpoints, we are committed to providing patients with legal and safe transfer channels.

Risks Associated with Non-Standard Transfers

However, we have observed that certain non-standard practices may expose patients to significant safety risks. For example, we recently received a case for assistance: an unconscious patient dependent on a ventilator and medication to maintain blood pressure was transported to the checkpoint by a Shenzhen ambulance, with a request for an immediate Hong Kong ambulance pickup without prior notification.

Since Hong Kong’s current pre-hospital emergency ambulance services generally do not include intensive care teams or advanced life support equipment (such as ventilators), it is inadvisable to accept such cases without ensuring a safe handover. Such sudden and poorly coordinated transfers carry high risks. After the patient’s family sought our assistance at the checkpoint, our medical team conducted a preliminary assessment and immediately recommended returning the patient to the nearest hospital. We advised that a formal evaluation be conducted, with necessary equipment and an appropriate medical team prepared before proceeding with the transfer.

Guidelines for Cross-Border Medical Transfers

To ensure safety, the public should consider the following key points when planning cross-border medical transfers:

1. Understand the Nature of the Service: Most cross-border medical transfers (including those requiring advanced life support such as ventilators) fall under non-emergency medical escort services. Advance planning is essential, and such services should not be treated as equivalent to mainland China’s 120 or Hong Kong’s 999 pre-hospital emergency services.

2. Ensure Professional Configuration: Safe transfers rely on professional medical assessments, necessary transfer medical equipment, and an appropriate medical escort team. Service personnel should preferably possess relevant professional training qualifications in fields such as aviation medicine or transport medicine.

3. Choose Legitimate Providers: Always select service providers that hold valid ambulance vehicle licenses and relevant insurance coverage (including third-party liability insurance, public liability insurance, and medical professional liability insurance). In mainland China, verify their medical qualifications and consider whether they have international certifications (such as compliance with national standards or the EU EN1789 certification for vehicles). 

4. Prioritise Experience and Reputation: Opt for providers with extensive operational experience, a strong service reputation, and the trust of reputable medical institutions and professionals in both Hong Kong and mainland China.

5. Beware of Pricing Traps: Avoid services with arbitrarily fluctuating "a variable pricing" or unlicensed intermediaries lacking medical qualifications. Unreasonably low prices often come with non-compliant practices and safety risks. Legitimate services should have transparent, publicly available pricing that corresponds to professional service standards. In some cases, legitimate services may even offer lower prices.

Amber Medical is committed to integrating medical resources between mainland China and Hong Kong, both within the Greater Bay Area and nationwide, to provide patients with reliable and professional medical transfer services. We will continue to strive and contribute to the development of this field.