Department to be set up for enhancing primary care

Hong Kong’s medical chief announced on Friday that a new government department will be established in midyear to promote the development of primary healthcare and personnel training.

Secretary for Health Lo Chungmau said the new department will be a reorganization of the Health Bureau’s existing Primary Healthcare Office, with tasks of service provision, standard setting, quality assurance, and personnel training under a single roof.

Speaking at the Legislative Council on Friday, Lo said staffing of the department will comprise employees of the current office, along with redeployed employees of the Hospital Authority.

A primary care committee will be set up under the department to help it perform its functions and exercise its authority in the development of primary care services, Lo said.

The committee, to be chaired by the commissioner for primary healthcare, will incorporate professionals from different backgrounds, including experts in family medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and dentistry, as well as officials from related bureaus and departments.

After the regrouping, the Department of Health under the Health Bureau will continue to maintain its public health functions and plan the overall public health strategy for Hong Kong, with the Hospital Authority, which reports to the Health Bureau, focusing on providing public hospital services and related medical and rehabilitation services to residents.

The primary care unit under the Hospital Authority will work in line with the policies made by the new department to provide medical services for less-privileged groups.

The establishment of the Primary Care Department is a key proposal in the Primary Care Blueprint, published in 2022. The plan is committed to strengthening the primary healthcare system to address the challenges brought about by an aging population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.