Lawmakers express concern over exclusion of dentures from new dental support program

Lawmakers raised concerns after it was revealed that the forthcoming Community Dental Support Programme would not include support for dentures, with Permanent Secretary for Health, Thomas Chan Chung-ching, who cited a decreased demand for such services based on improvements in elderly oral health over the past decade.

The Community Dental Support Programme, set to launch in the second quarter of next year, aims to provide dental services to elderly and financially disadvantaged groups. It will replace the Community Care Fund Dental Assistance Program, which is due to expire in 2026.

During a session at the Legislative Council Panel on Health Services, Kowloon Central lawmaker Kitson Yang Wing-kit voiced his concerns about the exclusion of dentures, suggesting that the new program might have reduced funding compared to its predecessor.

Thomas Chan Chung-ching explained that the demand for dental services has generally decreased as the oral health of the elderly has improved, leading to fewer instances of missing teeth. He also highlighted that under the previous Community Care Fund Dental Assistance Program, there was a high rate of tooth removal among the elderly, which contradicted the Department of Health’s objective of promoting tooth preservation.

Chan mentioned ongoing discussions with non-governmental organizations to potentially provide dental implant services for necessary cases. However, he emphasized that the focus would remain on preventive measures rather than on providing dentures, which he deemed unnecessary.

Additionally, the Department of Health is planning to establish a permanent consultant doctor position at the director level to enhance community oral health care advice. This proposal, however, faces opposition from many lawmakers.

Chan argued that under the dental system’s current limited manpower, creating new positions is essential for the continued improvement of dental services.

He also noted that the transition in dental services would involve the elimination of six consultant positions, with the new recruitment aimed merely at redistributing existing manpower.