In response to media enquiries regarding the Chronic Disease Co-Care (CDCC) Pilot Scheme, the Health Bureau provides the following response today (August 1):
 
     The Government launched the three-year CDCC Pilot Scheme in November 2023, subsidising Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above without diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) or hypertension (HT) to be paired with family doctors for DM and HT screening services in the private healthcare market to achieve the policy objective of "early prevention, early identification and early treatment". In March this year, the Pilot Scheme was expanded to include blood lipid testing, achieving full coverage of the "three highs". Participants diagnosed with prediabetes, DM, HT, or hyperlipidaemia after screening can proceed to the treatment phase and will be subsidised by the Government to continue their treatment with a family doctor of their choice, and subject to their health conditions, be provided with prescribed medication and dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services. The Pilot Scheme reinforces the "Family Doctor for All" concept and expands the community healthcare network through the District Health Centres (DHCs)/DHC Expresses as resources hubs.
 
     The CDCC Pilot Scheme has been well received since its launch. Halfway through its three-year pilot phase, over 140 000 citizens have already enrolled (as of July 23, 2025), and the number of participants continues to rise. It is expected that the target of having around 200 000 participants during the pilot period can be achieved earlier than expected. Currently, among the approximately 35 600 participants diagnosed with prediabetes, DM, HT, or hyperlipidaemia, over 95 per cent of them had chosen to continue receiving follow-up treatments from their family doctors.
 
     The Government commissioned a local university in the first quarter of 2024 to conduct a study to assess the progress in meeting various targets and the overall performance of the Pilot Scheme. Preliminary analysis indicated that participants' health conditions improved overall after receiving health counseling and medical treatment under the Pilot Scheme. Statistics revealed that after six months of participating in the Scheme, the average glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level of participants diagnosed with DM dropped by about 1.0 per cent, while the average systolic blood pressure of participants diagnosed with HT decreased by about 15.0 mmHg. The findings demonstrated the positive effects of continual health management and professional support on disease control. The study team recruited a total of 614 participants from 18 DHCs/DHC Expresses for a questionnaire survey. Survey results showed that participants were satisfied with the Pilot Scheme; the overall satisfaction score was 82.5 (out of 100), and the satisfaction score towards the first family doctor consultation service was 76 (out of 100). Furthermore, in terms of HT and DM management, 96.1 per cent of participants with HT and 98.0 per cent of participants with DM reported imrpovements in self-health management capabilities. 
 
     To address the primary healthcare needs of the underprivileged groups, the Government expanded the CDCC Pilot Scheme to selected General Out-patient Clinics (GOPCs) under the Hospital Authority (HA) in phases since late March this year, providing screening and management services of the "three highs" (DM, HT and hyperlipidaemia) for the underprivileged groups (including Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme recipients, Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above, or holders of valid Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges). The first phase of the service was launched in seven GOPCs in late March 2025 and extended to 14 GOPCs in the end of June 2025 to provide the relevant services. The Government and the HA are planning to extend the services to have GOPCs in all 18 districts to provide the relevant services by the end of this year. 
 
     The Government is reviewing the Pilot Scheme's effectiveness and optimisation strategies, and will expand the Scheme based on the experience gained from the pilot phase, with a view to deepening the initiative by transforming it into a CDCC Platform. The Government will use hepatitis B screening and management as a pilot arrangement, leveraging the Platform to further expand and integrate primary healthcare services, and gradually extend it to cover more types of chronic diseases having regard to considerations such as scientific evidence and resource utilisation. More health empowerment elements and preventive care programmes will also be added to establish a more systematic and coherent integrated primary healthcare community network.

Ends/Friday, August 1, 2025
Issued at HKT 21:18

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