Ambulance Services in Hong Kong are provided by the Hong Kong Fire Services, in co-operation with two other voluntary organisations, the Auxiliary Medical Service and the Hong Kong St. John Ambulance.
Public hospitals have charged HK$100 for treatment at accident and emergency departments since 2002. About 2.2 million use the service each year. Waiting time varies between one hour and more than five hours. In 2017 it was decided to increase the cost to HK$180 with an expansion of the fee waiver mechanism. The actual cost per patient is about HK$1,230.[when?][1] HK$1,390 in 2017-2018[2]
The ambulance service from the Hong Kong Fire Service pledges to have an arrival of an ambulance at the street address from the time of call within 12 minutes.[3]