Cross-boundary medical integration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Guangdong province, has deepened with the launch of a direct shuttle bus route linking Futian Port and the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital on Monday, improving access for patients visiting the regional medical hub.

Amid a growing trend of Hong Kong residents traveling north for medical care, the new transportation service is expected to facilitate access to the hospital's medical services, which combine strengths from both Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

The route will operate on a trial basis for three months. The fare is 2 yuan ($0.28), while seniors aged 60 and above can ride for free. Daily services run from 8 am to 6 pm, with each trip taking about 30 minutes. Buses run every half hour, and passengers can pay in cash or use transportation cards.

Kenneth Cheung Man-chee, chief executive of the hospital, said the institution, as a testing ground for cross-boundary medical cooperation, is committed to lowering barriers to medical integration. He said the hospital has been promoting connectivity in medical talent, drugs and devices, payment systems, emergency medical transfers and medical information.

The opening of the shuttle bus route addresses last-mile transportation challenges for patients, enhancing access to the hospital's services and further strengthening medical connectivity between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Cheung said.

A Hong Kong patient surnamed Ho was among the first to use the service. He said taxi rides between the hospital and the port typically cost 20 to 40 yuan, while taking the metro requires two transfers. The direct bus service, he said, is affordable and convenient, particularly for chronic patients who require frequent visits.

Mainland resident Brian Zhong also used the service with his mother, who has osteoporosis and has visited the hospital monthly for medication since early last year.

Zhong, who travels from the city of Huizhou, Guangdong, said the new route makes it easier for mainland patients to travel to Hong Kong for family visits or tourism after medical appointments, as people-to-people exchanges continue to deepen.

The medication Zhong's mother uses is approved for sale in Hong Kong but not yet on the mainland. Currently, only a limited number of mainland institutions, including the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, offer the drug under a pilot program.

As a pioneer in cross-boundary medical integration, the hospital has served as the first pilot institution for several initiatives benefiting Hong Kong patients, including the cross-boundary use of Hong Kong-approved drugs and medical devices, as well as the use of healthcare vouchers for Hong Kong elders.

By the end of last year, Hong Kong elders had used healthcare vouchers at the hospital a total of 140,000 times. The program allowing cross-boundary use of Hong Kong drugs and devices has expanded to 71 medical institutions across Guangdong.

According to the hospital, more than 22 percent of its outpatients are Hong Kong residents. A survey released by the University of Hong Kong in August 2025 showed a sharp increase in the number of Hong Kong residents seeking medical treatment across the border.

Before 2011, only 5.9 percent of Hong Kong residents had used healthcare services on the mainland. That figure rose to 60 percent between 2019 and 2023.

bingcun@chinadailyhk.com