Government expands co-care scheme to HA clinics

Grassroots citizens will be able to undergo preventive screenings at general out-patient clinics under the Hospital Authority starting March 28.

This came as the Health Bureau announced to expand the chronic disease co-care scheme to the designated clinics in phases, offering preventive screening and care services to the underprivileged group.

The scheme, launched in 2023, subsidizes Hongkongers aged 45 or above with no known medical history of diabetes or hypertension to undergo screenings and consultations with a private family doctor on a co-payment basis.

The government further decided to provide the service at the HA clinics, which has been repositioned as “comprehensive primary healthcare service providers for the underprivileged.”
 
The bureau said recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, elderly aged 75 or above collecting the Old Age Living Allowance, as well as persons holding a valid medical fee waiver certificate, can first visit district health centers for an initial assessment starting March 28.

The clinics, upon receiving referrals from the district health centers, will arrange appointments for the participants within a month and formulate a health management plan for them.

“The government will continue to review the effectiveness of the pilot services, which are planned to be gradually expanded to designated general out-patient clinics service points across all 18 districts by the fourth quarter of this year,” the bureau said.

It added that the co-care scheme will also be expanded to include blood lipid testing.

The Society for Community Organization welcomed the new arrangement, but urged the authorities to expand the beneficiaries to cover more low-income families.