The Department of Health has long provided school dental care services, providing basic oral health support for all primary school students. Building on this foundation, Chief Executive John Lee announced a new initiative in his 2023 Policy Address: the “Youth Dental Care Co-payment Pilot Scheme” to further enhance the oral health of young people.
On February 20, 2025, the Department of Health confirmed that the pilot scheme would officially launch on March 20. Through a cost-sharing model between the government and the public, the scheme encourages young people aged 13 to 17 to use private dental services and cultivate the habit of regular check-ups.
As of March 19, approximately 270 dentists had been approved to participate, providing services at over 370 locations. Over 60% of participating clinics offer a co-payment of HK$200 or less, with the lowest amount being HK$50.
The Working Group on Dentistry and Oral Health emphasized in its interim report that the pilot scheme complements school dental care services. The scheme provides subsidies for preventive dental services such as oral examinations, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatments, and personalized oral care advice.
Eligible participants include Hong Kong residents aged 13 to 17 who hold a valid identity document and are registered with the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth). Applicants under 16 must apply on their behalf through a guardian.
Each participant will receive an annual subsidy of HK$200, plus a co-payment set by a government dentist. The government proposes an additional HK$200 co-payment, payable directly to the clinic.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Ms. Lee Lai-kwan, stated that the program’s vision is to emulate the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme, allowing any willing dentist or clinic to participate without quota restrictions—ideally, all secondary school students would be eligible.
Separately, the Youth Dental Support Scheme, launched in 2024 by the Christian Family Service Centre with support from the Community Chest, is a charitable initiative that provides dental examinations and treatment to secondary school students over two years, aiming to bridge the gap between public and private healthcare services.
To further strengthen support, the Government will launch the Community Dental Support Scheme in May 2025. This scheme aims to help vulnerable groups, such as recipients of government fee remissions under the Hospital Authority, elderly recipients of the Old Age Living Allowance, and those referred by social workers. The scheme covers services such as oral health checks, pain relief, X-rays, fillings, and extractions.
In addition, the Government plans to strengthen special dental care services for people with disabilities and expand the Elderly Dental Assistance Scheme under the Community Care Fund in the third quarter of 2024.