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GOPC Public-Private Partnership Programme extends to 16 districts
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Following the extension of the General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership (GOPC PPP) Programme to 12 districts in the third quarter last year, the Hospital Authority (HA) will roll out the Programme to four more districts in 2017-18 including Central and Western, Islands, Tai Po and Tsuen Wan, covering 16 districts in total. Invitations are now being sent out to eligible patients in batches, starting from this month.

     The HA Director (Cluster Services) Dr Cheung Wai-lun said, "The Programme has received positive feedback from the community, patients and private doctors since the pilot run in Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin and Tuen Mun in mid-2014. The HA then decided to roll out the Programme to the remaining districts in phases starting from the third quarter last year and will cover all 18 districts in 2018-19. As at mid-April, there are over 12 000 patients participating in the programme. It is estimated that around 35 000 patients will participate in the Programme upon full implementation.

     "The Programme will be further extended to 16 districts in 2017-18 according to the roll-out plan. As at April 18, 2017, there are 273 private doctors participating in the Programme. Private medical practitioners are welcome to apply for participation in the Programme at any time."

     The new round of patient invitation has begun this month (April). Eligible patients will be invited by the HA in batches and they do not need to apply by themselves. Patient forums will continue to be held to encourage and facilitate patient enrollment.

     Patients with hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus (with or without hyperlipidemia) who have been attending the GOPCs in relevant districts for more than a year and are in a stable clinical condition will be invited to join the Programme voluntarily. Patients can choose one private doctor from the list of participating service providers in the 16 districts as their family doctor. Each patient will receive up to 10 subsidised visits per year, which include consultation for both chronic and episodic illnesses. Patients only need to pay the HA general out-patient fee (currently $45) for each consultation. Existing recipients of various fee waivers will continue to have the same fee waiving arrangement as for HA's services.

     Dr Cheung added, "Apart from offering more choices and convenience for patients seeking primary healthcare services and helping to manage the demand for the public general outpatient service, we hope that the Programme will help promote the family doctor concept and foster long-term patient-doctor relationships, which are essential for the management of chronic diseases."

     Patients can visit the Programme website (www.ha.org.hk/ppp/gopcppp) for more details and the updated list of participating service providers. They may also make enquiries by calling the Programme hotline at 2300 7300 or approaching the helpdesk in the districts concerned.
 
Ends/Monday, April 24, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:26
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