A former senior Hospital Authority official has called for caution in setting co-payment levels for healthcare services after the government said it'll consider charging patients separately for certain check-ups.

Luk Che-chung, a former chief executive of the authority's Hong Kong East Cluster, also said on Monday that the authorities should cap medical expenses paid by patients.

"Some medical services do cost a lot, especially self-financed items that often involve new drugs. They are expensive. If patients need financial assistance... there'll be procedures to undergo and thresholds to meet," Luk told an RTHK programme.

"If there is a capping mechanism in the future – not only on the number of check-ups but also medical fees – I believe it will be a good thing for the public."

The administration has said it's reviewing fees and charges for public hospital services, including charging for such services as CT scans and MRIs to prevent abuse. But emergency and hospitalised patients would be exempted.

Officials said they were hoping to adjust hospital fees to a level where there would be a "reasonable co-payment."

Alex Lam, chairman of Hong Kong Patients' Voices, expressed concerns that some people might not be able to cope if a co-payment were to be introduced.

“For people who are not eligible for the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance scheme or are not qualified as a result of means tests, they would rather not pay the several hundred or thousand dollars out of their own pocket even if it means they won't receive such services. In the end, their condition may get worse," Lam told the same programme.