Commissioner for Primary Healthcare assumes office
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     The Health Bureau (HHB) announced today (November 7) that Dr Pang Fei-chau has assumed the post of Commissioner for Primary Healthcare today.
 
     In "The Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address", it is announced that the Government will publish the Primary Healthcare Blueprint within this year, aiming to shift the emphasis of the healthcare system from its current treatment-oriented, hospital-based structure to a prevention-focused, community-based system, by revamping the healthcare system and investing additional resources to promote primary healthcare.
 
     A spokesman for the HHB said, "Dr Pang has extensive experience in public healthcare development and management. He will lead the Primary Healthcare Office (PHO) to take forward the primary healthcare development and implement relevant measures set out in the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, including the establishment of the Primary Healthcare Authority and fostering the prevention and management of chronic diseases."
 
     Established in 2019, the PHO spearheads the overall development of primary healthcare services at the bureau level, including overseeing the development of District Health Centres (DHCs) in all 18 districts, with a view to providing primary healthcare services under a new operation model and enhancing the public-private partnership, medical-social collaboration as well as multi-disciplinary, cross-sectoral and inter-organisational co-ordination in primary healthcare. DHCs or DHC Expresses will be extended to cover all 18 districts by the end of this year, serving as important hardware in pressing ahead with the collaboration of primary healthcare services. At present, DHCs in six districts (Kwai Tsing, Sham Shui Po, Southern District, Tuen Mun, Wong Tai Sin and Yuen Long) and DHC Expresses in 11 districts (Central and Western District, Eastern District, Islands, Kowloon City, Kwun Tong, North District, Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Wan Chai and Yau Tsim Mong) are in operation whereas Tsuen Wan DHC will commence its service next month.
 
     Dr Pang is seconded to the HHB from the Hospital Authority. He is a specialist in geriatric medicine and is also the President of the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine. He was a clinical associate professor of practice in the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong and a member of the Elderly Commission.

Ends/Monday, November 7, 2022
Issued at HKT 11:00

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