YOUTH CANCER HONG KONG
Financial Aid
Hospital Authority and Social Welfare Department
1. Disability Allowance: The Disability Allowance can be divided into Normal Disability Allowance and Higher Disability Allowance. Applicants are not required to make contributions and undergo a financial assessment. However, they must be diagnosed as disabled by a doctor and obtain a certification letter from a doctor before applying through the Social Security Office or be referred by a government department or other non-governmental organizations.
For more details, please refer to the website below:
2. Short-term Food Assistance Service: Funded by the government and commissioned by non-governmental organizations, this service provides basic food assistance services, generally for no more than 8 weeks. This service aims to provide for individuals or families who struggle to cover daily food expenses in the short term. Applicants can reach out to the Short-term Food Assistance Service Teams and provide documents such as proof of identity, address, and financial status for the Team’s assessment.
For more details, please refer to the website below:
https://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/pubsvc/family/cat_support/foodassist/
3. Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme: To provide a safety net for individuals who are financially unable to support themselves, helping them meet their basic living needs. Applicants may apply in person at their local social security office, or submit their application via telephone, fax, email, mail, or online forms. Referrals can also be made by government departments or other non-governmental organizations.
For more details, please refer to the website below: https://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/pubsvc/socsecu/comprehens/cssa/
Other non-governmental organisations and charitable groups
A）Hong Kong Cancer Fund
1) Emergency Assistance Fund Program: This program provides short-term support for cancer patients and their families, aiming to ease the financial burden caused by cancer and allow patients to focus on their recovery and treatment. The fund covers essential living items, nutritional milk powder, transportation expenses, Chinese medicine treatment, personal care services, and more.
Applicants must hold a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card and be at least 18 years old. They are required to undergo assessments of their financial and medical conditions, and may need to provide other necessary information for review.
Food Assistance Program: This program provides cancer patients with supermarket cash vouchers for a period of three months, enabling them to purchase nutritious and high-quality food to meet their dietary needs during treatment and recovery.
Applicants must hold a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card and be at least 18 years old. A simple nutritional and financial assessment is required for eligibility review.
For more details, please refer to the website below:
https://www.cancer-fund.org/%e9%86%ab%e7%99%82%e5%8f%8a%e7%b6%93%e6%bf%9f%e6%8f%b4%e5%8a%a9/
Medical Support
Hospital Authority and Social Welfare Department
1) The Hospital Authority provides a medical fee waiver mechanism to assist patients in financial need. If a patient is unable to afford medical service charges due to financial hardship, they may apply for a fee waiver. For more details, please refer to the website below:
2) Samaritan Fund: Provides financial assistance to eligible patients who meet specific clinical criteria and pass a means test, helping them cover certain needs during the treatment process. This does not include costs related to "self-financed medical items" or new technologies provided under standard charges at public hospitals and clinics. For more details, please refer to the website below:
Other Non-Governmental Organisations and Charitable Groups
A) Hong Kong Cancer Fund
1) Prosthesis Subsidy Fund:
This fund assists breast cancer survivors facing financial difficulties by providing a subsidy of HKD $1,800 per person after surgery to help them purchase suitable prostheses and bras. Applicants must hold a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, be at least 18 years old, and undergo financial and medical assessments or provide other necessary information for review.
2) Free Mammogram Surveillance Program:
This program aims to help breast cancer survivors detect potential recurrence early by offering free mammograms and ultrasound screenings. The goal is early detection and early treatment. Applicants must hold a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, be at least 18 years old, and be referred by an oncologist or surgeon from the Hospital Authority.
For more details, please contact the Hong Kong Cancer Fund Service Centre or call the support hotline at 3656 0800.
B) Union Hospital
1）仁心仁術慈善計劃：Launched in 2006, this program brings together a group of like-minded specialist doctors to help patients in need who require surgery but are unable to afford medical expenses. It provides free surgical and treatment services to eligible applicants. If approved, the program will subsidize the following costs: outpatient consultation fees, doctors' ward round and procedural fees during hospitalization, hospital fees (excluding meals or non-essential personal items), medical supplies and equipment required during the treatment, essential medications during hospitalization, additional treatment costs arising from complications related to the procedure. The exact coverage and items subsidized will be subject to final approval by the Compassionate Care Charity Program.
Subsidy applications are subject to means testing. For more details, please contact Union Hospital:
https://www.union.org/charity/about.php
C) Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society
1) Jockey Club Cancer Survivorship Care Project: Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and coordinated by The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, cancer centres have been established across four regions—Hong Kong Island & Outlying Islands, Kowloon, New Territories East, and New Territories West—in collaboration with various non-governmental organizations. These centres provide emotional support and practical services for cancer patients and their caregivers.
For more details, please refer to the website below: https://jccsc.hkacs.org.hk/zh/
2) Charity Bed: Provides low-cost or even free services for:
-
Rehabilitation or respite care for cancer patients
-
Palliative and end-of-life care (cancer patients or patients with other illnesses)
For more details, please refer to the website below:
https://www.hkacs.org.hk/tc/medicalnews.php?id=42
3) The Portia Cheung Breast Cancer Support Programme: Provides financial assistance to breast cancer patients for expenses that are currently not covered by the government or other funding sources, such as additional nutritional supplements, prostheses, and PET-CT scans.
If needed, please contact the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society or the Medical Social Services Department for assistance.
Medication Assistance
Hospital Authority and Social Welfare Department
1) Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes: Provides financial assistance to cancer patients with financial difficulties for the use of specific self-financed cancer drugs that are not yet covered under the Samaritan Fund safety net. These medications are used to treat particular types of cancer.
Eligibility for assistance is determined through a means test conducted by medical social workers, who will also assist with the referral process.
If needed, please contact the Medical Social Services Department for support.
For more details, please refer to the website below:
Other Non-Governmental Organizations and Charitable Groups
1) Yan Oi Tong Chong Sok Un Medical Fund (Cancer Aid): Provides cancer patients with financial assistance in the form of cash subsidies to purchase self-financed medications for appropriate treatment. Eligibility for the subsidy requires a means test conducted by a medical social worker, who will also assist with the referral process.
If needed, please contact the Medical Social Services Department.
For more details, please refer to the website below:
https://www.yotcancerfund.org.hk/mechanism-of-subsidy
2) Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society - Prof. H.C. Ho Memorial Medical Assistance Programme: Provides financial assistance for cancer patients to purchase self-financed medications that are not covered under the Hospital Authority’s safety net. Eligibility requires a means test conducted by a medical social worker, who will also assist with the referral process.
If needed, please contact the Medical Social Services Department.
For more details, please refer to the website below:https://www.hkacs.org.hk/tc/medicalnews.php?id=41
3) St. James' Settlement - SJS Philanthropic Community Pharmacy: Helps eligible cancer patients purchase self-financed medications prescribed by hospitals and clinics under the Hospital Authority, enabling them to receive timely and appropriate drug treatment. Financial assistance is subject to means testing.
For more details, please refer to the website below:
