The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Yuen Long District Health Centre (DHC) today (September 5). He stated that the Government will launch the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Scheme) in the fourth quarter this year and is now strenuously recruiting family doctors to participate. The DHCs will serve as citizens' first contact point to join the scheme, playing a crucial role in liaison and co-ordination.
Professor Lo said, "Under the CDCC Scheme, the Government will provide targeted subsidies for items such as conducting laboratory tests and procuring medication, as an incentive to encourage citizens to engage family doctors and private healthcare professionals for screening and treatment for hypertension and diabetes mellitus in the private healthcare sector through a co-payment model.
"Along the process, the DHCs will arrange initial assessments for eligible citizens in the district and assist them to match with a family doctor of their own choice, while offering them health information. The DHCs will also support family doctors participating in the Scheme by utilising the local service network for co-ordinating and providing multidisciplinary follow-up and treatment.
"Last week, the Health Bureau started recruiting doctors to participate in the CDCC Scheme. I call on all doctors to take part actively and enrol as family doctors under the Scheme to establish long-term doctor-patient relationship with patients. By that, they will be our comrades in strengthening citizens' capability and raising their awareness of preventing and receiving treatment for chronic diseases, thus enhancing the community's alertness to health risks. That will help the community pursue the objectives of preventing diseases before occurrence, and managing diseases at an early stage."
At present, DHCs or DHC Expresses are in operation in all districts across the city to provide comprehensive, coherent and people-oriented multidisciplinary primary healthcare services at the community level. The DHCs are also actively promoting the "Family Doctor For All" concept and advocating the mindset of "prevention and early treatment".
The Yuen Long DHC, operated by Pok Oi Hospital, has commenced services in phases since late October last year. Its core centre is located in One Sky Mall in Tin Shui Wai, alongside three satellite centres in Yuen Long Town Hall, Tai Tong Road and Kingswood Richly Plaza. The core centre houses a rehabilitation training area and an exercise and fitness area to offer members effective chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services through the application of innovative technology. Relevant information on the Yuen Long DHC can be acquired by calling the hotline at 2602 2020. More details of the DHCs/DHC Expresses are available on the website www.dhc.gov.hk.
Also attending the opening ceremony today included the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau; the Chairman of Yuen Long District Council, Mr Shum Ho-kit; the Deputy Director General of the New Territories Sub-office of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Li Gongxun; and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pok Oi Hospital, Dr Chan Shou-ming.
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