LCQ10: Community Dental Support Programme
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Question:
Since May 26 this year, the Government has launched the Community Dental Support Programme (the Programme) in collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to promote early identification and timely intervention of dental diseases among the underprivileged groups with financial difficulties through provision of subsidised services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers, genders and ages of participants, as well as the distribution of their selected NGO-operated dental clinics (broken down by the 18 districts across the territory) since the launch of the Programme; the respective numbers of participants who have received the following specified subsidised dental services: (i) oral health assessment, (ii) medication for dental pain relief, (iii) X-ray examination and (iv) dental filling or extraction, and among which the number of participants who have used up the three "Teeth Filling/Extraction Quotas" within the 180-day cycle;
(2) of the respective (i) number of participating NGOs, and (ii) the number of dental service points and their distribution in the 18 districts across the territory since the launch of the Programme;
(3) of the financial provision earmarked by the Government for the Programme and the specific expenditure incurred since the launch of the Programme;
(4) whether the Government has received complaints from participants since the launch of the Programme; if so, of the main issues involved, as well as the Government's handling procedures; and
(5) whether the various indicators have met the Government's expectations since the launch of the Programme; of the measures put in place by the Government to encourage more NGOs and dental service points to participate, so that the service points can be distributed more evenly across districts to meet the demand for dental services from eligible persons?
Reply:
President,
The reply in response to the question raised by the Hon Chan Pui-leung is as follows:
The Government formulated the Oral Health Action Plan according to the development strategies and recommendations made by the Working Group on Oral Health and Dental Care in December last year. The Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP) was launched on May 26 this year, as part of the strategy of essential dental care services targeting underprivileged groups, focusing on providing subsidised dental services to underprivileged with difficulties in accessing dental care. Currently, each eligible participant can apply for subsidised dental services which cover both preventive and curative oral health and dental care services once every 180 days under the CDSP. Subject to the assessment by the attending registered dentist, a participant will be provided with specified subsidised dental services, including oral health assessment, medication for dental pain relief (when necessary), X-ray examination and dental fillings and extractions.
As of October 1, a total of 3 262 eligible persons have participated in the CDSP. In addition to oral health assessments, all participants received one or more dental services: 1 161 of them were prescribed medication for dental pain relief, 2 235 received X-ray examinations, 1 958 received dental fillings, and 1 059 received extractions.
The results of the Oral Health Survey 2021 showed that each adult (35 to 44 years old age group) and non-institutionalised older person (65 to 74 years old age group) in Hong Kong had an average of 0.7 and 1.2 untreated decay teeth respectively. Based on the results of the survey, the Government has set a maximum of three "Teeth Filling/Extraction Quotas" (Quotas) for each participant every 180 days under CDSP, with each Quota covering treatment for one tooth. Currently, each participant is using an average of 1.8 Quotas. 1 808 of the participants (55 per cent) have not used all three Quotas, while 1 454 of them (45 per cent) have used up the three Quotas, reflecting that the current service capacity can generally meet the demands of participants.
Participants can choose any service point in the 18 districts to apply for subsidised dental services. The number of service points operated by the total of 32 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in 18 districts and the number of participants in each of the districts are tabled below:
| Districts |
Number of service points (Percentage) | Number of participants (Percentage) |
| Hong Kong Island and Islands | ||
| Central and Western | 2 (2.5%) | 49 (1.5%) |
| Southern | 1 (1.3%) | 38 (1.2%) |
| Wan Chai | 4 (5.1%) | 87 (2.7%) |
| Eastern | 6 (7.6%) | 188 (5.8%) |
| Islands | 1 (1.3%) | 102 (3.1%) |
| Kowloon | ||
| Kowloon City | 6 (7.6%) | 136 (4.2%) |
| Wong Tai Sin | 2 (2.5%) | 12 (0.4%) |
| Kwun Tong | 12 (15.2%) | 403 (12.4%) |
| Yau Tsim Mong | 10 (12.6%) | 264 (8.1%) |
| Sham Shui Po | 6 (7.6%) | 210 (6.4%) |
| New Territories | ||
| Tsuen Wan | 3 (3.8%) | 213 (6.5%) |
| Kwai Tsing | 8 (10.1%) | 529 (16.2%) |
| Tuen Mun | 2 (2.5%) | 73 (2.2%) |
| Yuen Long | 6 (7.6%) | 198 (6.1%) |
| Sha Tin | 4 (5.1%) | 402 (12.3%) |
| Tai Po | 3 (3.8%) | 163 (5.0%) |
| North | 1 (1.3%) | 76 (2.3%) |
| Sai Kung | 2 (2.5%) | 119 (3.6%) |
| Total | 79 (100%) | 3 262 (100%) |
The number of participants by age group and gender are tabled below:
| Age group | Male (Percentage) |
Female (Percentage) |
Total (Percentage) |
| 0 to 18 | 3 (0.1%) |
0 (0%) |
3 (0.1%) |
| 19 to 64 | 48 (1.5%) |
53 (1.6%) |
101 (3.1%) |
| 65 to 74 | 644 (19.7%) |
1 043 (32.0%) |
1 687 (51.7%) |
| 75 or above | 574 (17.6%) |
897 (27.5%) |
1 471 (45.1%) |
| Total | 1 269 (38.9%) |
1 993 (61.1%) |
3 262 (100%) |
The financial provision in 2025 -26 for the implementation of the CDSP and the Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents is $136.3 million. Since the launch of the CDSP on May 26, the Government has received no complaints from participants.
As of October 1, the CDSP provided 4 390 dental fillings and 1 626 extractions. The ratio of the two is approximately three to one, which reflects that the CDSP has successfully guided participants towards tooth retention when the dentist considers it suitable, aligning with the Government's prevailing strategies on oral health and dental care.
The CDSP will expand the beneficiary list from next year to cover the homeless, and expand its scope of services to include dental scalings, root canal treatments, removal of bridges and crowns as well as removable denture fittings, further enhancing subsidised preventive and curative dental services for the underprivileged with financial difficulties. The CDSP will supplant Community Care Fund Elderly Dental Assistance Programme (EDAP) in 2026. The EDAP will cease accepting applications from January 1, 2026.
Currently, there is a total of 32 NGOs participating in the CDSP, providing services to eligible participants in 79 service points covering all 18 districts in Hong Kong. The service is generally sufficient to meet the demand. Since the launch of the CDSP, the Department of Health has been actively promoting the programme at the community level. This includes conducting briefings to district services and community care teams, holding oral health talks and promoting the programme in District Elderly Community Centres, Neighbourhood Elderly Centres and Integrated Family Service Centres in 18 districts, and providing on-site appointment booking services for eligible persons. In addition, participating NGOs have also utilised their network, collaborated with other community social welfare organisations and conducted outreaching activities, among other things, with a view to promoting the CDSP to target users and expanding the community coverage of the programme.
The Government will continue to monitor the service usage and demand of the CDSP, timely review the programme and explore addition of service units and service points having regard to the demand and required resources.
Ends/Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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