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The Government would implement a Health Care Voucher Scheme on a three-year pilot basis starting next month (January), the Deputy Director of Health, Dr Gloria Tam, said today (December 23).
Dr Tam said the objective of the scheme was to partially subsidise he elderly for using private primary care services and she reminded interested private healthcare providers to enrol with the Department of Health in advance.
"Enrolment began on September 30 and will be ongoing throughout the period.
"More than 1,400 healthcare providers have completed the enrolment process and can offer services to eligible elderly starting on January 1, 2009, and the applications of another 300 healthcare providers are under process," Dr Tam said.
Successful applicants were required to display the designated logo at their workplaces for identification, she said.
Under the voucher scheme, people aged 70 or above and holding a valid Hong Kong Identity Card or a valid Certificate of Exemption will, each year, be given five health care vouchers worth $50 each to partially subsidise primary care services they purchase from the private sector.
The vouchers can be used for services provided by Western medical practitioners, registered Chinese medicine practitioners, dentists, chiropractors, registered nurses and enrolled nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers and medical laboratory technologists.
The scheme will be operated on an electronic platform (the eHealth System). Eligible elderly do not have to pre-register as the vouchers will be issued and used through this platform.
"They are only required to approach a participating provider of their choice and use the vouchers by producing their valid Hong Kong Identity Card or Certificate of Exemption," Dr Tam said.
The vouchers are valid throughout the three-year period. Unused vouchers may be retained for use in the following year or the last year of the scheme. No advance of vouchers which are yet to be used will be allowed.
Dr Tam advised the elderly not to rush into claiming the vouchers within a short period. They are encouraged to use the vouchers as necessary over the period of the scheme.
Further information on the voucher scheme is available at the thematic website (www.hcv.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:41
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