Macao EMS Funding: Free 119/120 Emergency Rescue, Hospital Charges and Cross-Border Ambulances

Research snapshot · 14 August 2026. Macao SAR has distinct regulation and billing from mainland China’s 120 system. Public prehospital emergency rescue is delivered by the Corpo de Bombeiros / 消防局 (Fire Services Bureau, CB), while hospital emergency departments are governed by the Health Bureau and relevant public institutions.

1. Public rescue and ambulance

• Emergency numbers: 119 or 120, and (853) 2857 2222.
• Operator: Corpo de Bombeiros / Fire Services Bureau.
• Charge: no charge for public emergency rescue service.
• Coverage: Macao Peninsula, Taipa, Coloane and designated locations including Hengqin/University of Macau Campus and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port.

Primary source: Macao SAR Government – Emergency Rescue Service.

2. Hospital emergency care is billed separately

A free public rescue ambulance does not mean free emergency-department care. For Conde de São Januário General Hospital’s emergency service, the government portal currently lists the following consultation charges:

• Macao resident: MOP 42.
• Nonresident worker: MOP 60.
• Non-Macao resident: MOP 120.

Other medical services, including diagnostics, medications, treatments and operations, may be charged according to patient status: Macao residents at 70%, nonresident workers at 100%, and non-Macao residents at 200% of the relevant fee basis. Source: Macao SAR Government – Emergency Services.

3. Islands Emergency Department – 2026

Since 28 January 2026, Macao Union Medical Center operates the former Islands Emergency Station. The government confirmed a three-tier fee regime: eligible persons entitled to free public specialist care pay nothing; Macao residents pay 70% of stipulated emergency diagnostic and treatment fees; non-Macao residents pay 100%. Source: Macao SAR Government – Islands Emergency Department 2026.

4. Cross-boundary ambulance between Macao and Hong Kong

The Hong Kong–Macao Cross-boundary Ambulance Trial Scheme was extended through 29 November 2026. From 27 March 2026 Macao ambulances could not only transport patients to Hong Kong but also bring patients back from Hong Kong to Macao for treatment. This is an institutionally arranged cross-boundary hospital transfer programme rather than a generally bookable ambulance tariff. Source: Macao SAR Government – Cross-boundary Ambulance 2026.

5. Billing geography

The relevant structure is Macao SAR → Fire Services Bureau / Health Bureau / specific public hospital. Macao does not use mainland China’s nested provincial/prefectural/district ambulance tariff hierarchy; it is a separate SAR jurisdiction in this atlas.

6. AIRCHILL market-access implications

1. Public rescue is government-funded; no separate patient-based add-on for a cooling device is documented.
2. Public emergency/health-authority device procurement must be separated from hospital billing.
3. Macao–Hong Kong cross-boundary transfers are a distinct institutional market-access use case.
4. No established AIRCHILL-specific reimbursement code exists; procurement, clinical pilot and evidence-generation routes require separate assessment.

Interpretation boundary: Free ambulance transport refers to the public Emergency Rescue Service operated by Corpo de Bombeiros. Hospital diagnostics and treatment may incur separate costs.

Global EMS Reimbursement Atlas · Hong Kong.

English working translation of the German source; figures reflect the dated original research snapshot. Regulatory/market-data verification outstanding; AIRCHILL is a development-stage device without demonstrated clinical benefit.