The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, welcomed the delegation led by Vice-minister of the National Health Commission (NHC) Mr Lei Haichao for visiting the Wong Tai Sin District Health Centre (DHC) today (March 28) to learn about the development of primary healthcare in Hong Kong.
 
     Professor Lo said, "In the face of the aging population and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government released the Primary Healthcare Blueprint last year, setting out a series of development directions and strategies to strengthen Hong Kong's primary healthcare system, with a view to shifting the focus of the healthcare system from its current treatment-oriented, hospital-based structure to a prevention-focused, community-based system. The establishment of DHCs in all 18 districts by the HKSAR Government is a new move to optimise the healthcare system in Hong Kong. It was particularly meaningful for Vice-minister Lei and the NHC delegation to visit the Wong Tai Sin DHC today to witness the HKSAR Government's determination and commitment in developing primary healthcare. The nation's medical reform also puts much emphasis on a tiered diagnosis and treatment system as well as enhancement to healthcare services at the primary level. Today's event is a perfect opportunity for the delegation to get a grasp of and exchange views on the services and development of Hong Kong's primary healthcare."
 
     The Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau, further elaborated on the specific strategies and reform directions of the Blueprint to the delegation. He emphasised that the Blueprint aims at building a sustainable healthcare system. Among all, the HKSAR Government will gradually strengthen the role of DHCs as community resource hubs, including co-ordinating various medical professions and primary healthcare services in the districts, and promoting the concept of "family doctor for all" together with the private medical sector. In addition, the HKSAR Government will launch a three-year Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme later this year and identify high-risk individuals with diabetes and hypertension through the DHCs. The Scheme will allow those high-risk individuals to receive government-subsidised treatment and multi-disciplinary professional guidance at the community level for better management of their own condition and avoiding the occurrence of complications.
 
     Accompanied by Professor Lo, the NHC delegation then toured the distinctive health promotion and rehabilitation facilities in the Wong Tai Sin DHC. The delegation was also pleased to learn that the DHC provides multi-faceted primary healthcare services, including health promotion, disease prevention, health risk factor assessment, chronic disease management and community rehabilitation support to the citizens in the district by connecting multi-disciplinary medical social teams and partner organisations, thereby promoting healthy living to people of different age groups.
 
     The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, and representatives of the operator of the Wong Tai Sin DHC, i.e. the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, including its Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, The Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon; its Advisor to the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, Dr Donald Li; and its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Patricia Lau, also attended the visit of the NHC delegation today.

Ends/Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Issued at HKT 19:05

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