The "private" side of healthcare in HK

This afternoon we were exposed to a different side of how healthcare is delivered here compared to our previous experiences in HK's public system.  Our first stop this afternoon exposed us to a full diagnostic suite and assoociated specialty providers.  The second visit was to Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, a large private hospital offering the typical array of medical services including medical, surgical and emergency care.  These services are geared toward patients who either have employer based health insurance or who are able to pay out of pocket.  The differences were immediately apparent.

The benefit of private medical care is that there is no queue (or wait time) for seeing providers or for getting diagnostic tests.  Much of these can be performed the same day w/o the typical 4-12month delay seen in public care. Timeliness to these services does have its benefits....for those who can afford it.  Both private offices and private hospital bedrooms are larger and more plush than in the public sector.  Because there is a population willing and able to pay for these more expensive benefits; doctors, nurses & associated staff are paid more working in the private system.  Retaining healthcare workers and providing more timely care continues to be a challenge for those in the public system.  A question that comes to mind when comparing the private & public systems is:  Which one produces better outcomes?