30th December 2024 – (Hong Kong) The Health Bureau (HHB) has issued a call-to-action today, urging dentists interested in participating in government-subsidised primary healthcare initiatives to promptly register in the Primary Care Directory (PCD) and integrate with eHealth. This move aims to facilitate the provision of subsidised services to their patients under relevant programmes.
Effective from 2nd January, 2025, in alignment with the directives outlined in the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, dentists engaging in government-subsidised primary healthcare programmes such as the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme (EHVS) and the forthcoming Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents must be enlisted in the PCD. Additionally, from the same date onwards, all dentists enlisted in the PCD are mandated to join eHealth.
A transitional period of two months until February 28, 2025, has been allocated for the implementation of these new prerequisites. Dentists currently participating in the EHVS who remain unlisted in the PCD by the end of this grace period will no longer be able to offer subsidised services to their patients under the scheme. The public is advised to consult with their dentists or verify online to confirm their enrolment status in the PCD, ensuring continued access to relevant subsidised services through their current dental practitioners.
As per recommendations in the Blueprint, all primary healthcare providers, including dentists, must enlist in the PCD to partake in continuing professional development programmes, thereby enhancing service quality. The adoption of eHealth is also emphasised to improve data connectivity, health surveillance, care coordination, and cross-sector collaboration, aligning with the Blueprint’s objective of bolstering medical service quality and continuity.
To mitigate any disruptions for citizens benefiting from subsidised services, the HHB has maintained active communication with the dental community since June, disseminating details of the new requirements promptly and assisting in PCD enlistment and eHealth integration as needed. A two-month grace period has been instituted to facilitate the completion of enlistment procedures by dentists.
For public convenience, individuals can visit the PCD website at apps.pcdirectory.gov.hk/public/EN to verify their dentist’s enlistment status, besides directly engaging with their dental practitioners.
The PCD serves as a comprehensive web-based repository of practice information and professional credentials of primary healthcare providers, aiding the public in selecting service providers based on personal needs and programme participation.
As of November’s end this year, 1,049 dentists have enlisted in the PCD. The Government advocates for all dentists offering primary healthcare services to enlist in the PCD, ensuring the delivery of coordinated, person-centred primary healthcare services in a comprehensive and continuous manner to citizens.
