Relief for dental patients as quota queue to start at 8pm

People will be able to secure a quota for government dental services from 8pm, instead of the current midnight arrangement, starting in July, says Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said.

The move comes after last month's audit report slammed the current arrangement, saying patients have to queue for up to seven hours for dental services at the 11 government clinics' general public sessions.

The report also panned the overall annual quota, which has been slashed in half since the pandemic despite demand.

Speaking at a Legislative Council meeting yesterday, Lo said the quota was significantly reduced because of a shortage of dentists and the anti-epidemic measures.

He said health authorities have already come up with measures to improve the situation.

One is changing the queue time start to 8pm, Lo said.

"People who have registered need to return to the clinic half an hour before the appointment and can receive services after ID verification," Lo said.

"This can prevent people from queuing at the clinics late at night and returning."

Lo also said the Department of Health is developing an online registration system so people will no longer have to queue in person.

The system will show the number of remaining quotas at the 11 clinics to ensure all the quotas are fully used, he said.

Director of health Ronald Lam Man-kin said the government will focus resources on the underprivileged.

"We hope to offer dental services through nongovernment institutions with the quota doubling from the current arrangement," Lam said. "Under the new mode, we expect there will be 40,000 additional quotas by 2025."

Some Hongkongers said they are satisfied with the improvements.

"It's more convenient if the clinics distribute quotas starting at 8pm. We can help family members to collect one after work and dinner," a man, Kam, said.

But a woman said it may be even harder to secure a quota as more people will show up early.

"I'll have to come to the clinics early. I can go home and sleep after securing a quota and no longer have to wait until midnight, when there are few buses," she said.

The Society for Community Organization's Lin Wai-kiu said the new arrangement may not shorten the time for the elderly.

"The quota distribution starts early but so does the queuing. People may have to start waiting in line at noon," Lin said.

"I'm also worried that some elderly may be forced to visit the clinics twice for the services. As there are few government clinics, some have to seek public dental services in another district."

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com