168 Health
Based on the recommendations of WGPC, the FHB has drawn up the overall strategy for primary care development in Hong Kong in consultation with relevant professions and stakeholders. It also published a primary care development strategy document, which set out the benefits of good primary care and the strategies and pathways of action that would help healthcare providers deliver high quality primary care in Hong Kong, at the end of 2010.
The Primary Care Office (PCO) was set up under the DH in September 2010 to support and co-ordinate the development of primary care in Hong Kong, the implementation of primary care development strategies and actions, and the co-ordination of actions among the DH, the HA, the private healthcare sector, NGOs and other healthcare providers. As at the end of 2011, the major progress was as follows:
• A territory-wide primary care campaign was rolled out in April 2011 to promote to the public the Government's primary care development strategy and initiatives, and the concept of family doctors being long-term healthcare partners;
• Sub-directories of doctors and dentists of the Primary Care Directory were launched in April 2011. The public can search the web-based Directory for family doctors or dentists who suit their needs;
• Reference frameworks for the DM and the HT have been promulgated to provide common reference for healthcare professionals; and
• CHC pilot projects based on different models
based on different models are being explored in collaboration with healthcare professionals and providers from the public and private sectors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and universities. The first purpose-built CHC in Hong Kong will come into operation in Tin Shui Wai in the first half of 2012. The Government also continues to take forward, through the DH and the HA, a series of pilot projects to enhance primary care services, including various healthcare voucher and vaccination subsidy schemes and other pilot projects for strengthening chronic disease. management.
Clinic Services
General outpatient clinic services are mainly provided by the private sector. Public primary care services are offered primarily to low-income families, chronic disease patients and other vulnerable groups. In 2011, some 1.35 million people used these services, with 5.46 million attendances recorded. At present, the HA operates 74 general outpatient clinics in Hong Kong with some providing family. medicine specialist outpatient services.
The Government supports the development of family medicine, provides specialist training in it and assists the integration of primary and secondary care. Some $1.7 billion was spent on general outpatient and family medicine services during the 2010-11 financial year.