The Government announced today that it will launch a new Oral Health Action Plan next year. This plan follows recommendations made by the Working Group on Oral Health & Dental Care, whose final report was released today.
The Government supports the working group’s strategies, which focus on promoting prevention-oriented oral healthcare for all age groups. The plan also aims to provide essential dental care to underprivileged communities.
Key parts of the plan include piloting risk assessments and oral hygiene services at selected District Health Centers, introducing preventive dental care for preschool children, and launching the Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents (PDCC). The PDCC encourages adolescents to attend regular dental check-ups and scaling treatments through a co-payment system. Additionally, the plan encourages the elderly to use Elderly Health Care Vouchers for oral health check-ups.
At a press conference, Deputy Secretary for Health Eddie Lee explained the PDCC scheme. The Government will provide a fixed subsidy of $200 per patient. Adolescents participating in the scheme will pay a co-payment of $200 for scaling services. For treatments not covered by the subsidy, such as fillings or extractions, dentists can discuss prices directly with patients.
To ensure transparency, participating dentists must clearly state their fees for extra services. This allows patients to make informed decisions.
The action plan also includes measures to support underprivileged groups through the Community Dental Support Program. The Government plans to improve dental service arrangements in the General Public Session of the Department of Health by launching an online registration system on December 30. Special care dental services will also expand to cover people with disabilities or special needs.
Alongside the action plan, the Department of Health published the Oral Health Survey 2021, conducted from 2021 to 2023. The survey shows that past government efforts have improved oral health in the community. There has been a decline in tooth decay and an increase in tooth retention among the elderly.
The survey also found that tooth decay rates among children aged five and 12 and the rate of complete tooth loss among elderly people in Hong Kong are better than global averages. However, the findings emphasize that dental diseases and tooth loss remain risks, highlighting the need to strengthen prevention efforts.