The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) under the Health Bureau will further enhance primary healthcare services for the elderly in Hong Kong. From 5 October 2026 (Monday), the PHC Commission will gradually integrate the services of Elderly Health Centres (EHCs) under the Department of Health (DH) into the district health network, providing more comprehensive primary healthcare services for the elderly under a new service model.
The PHC Commission will integrate nine EHCs, namely North District, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun Wu Hong, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Shing, San Po Kong, Yau Ma Tei, Shau Kei Wan and Aberdeen in the first phase. Integration of the remaining nine EHCs will be completed within 2027-28.
Upon completion of the integration, the number of service points will increase substantially from the current 18 to more than 100, covering District Health Centres/ District Health Expresses (collectively referred to as DHCs) across all 18 districts in Hong Kong and designated Hospital Authority (HA) Family Medicine Clinics (FMCs), among others. The overall service capacity for elderly health services will also increase from the current approximately 54 000 elderly persons per year to more than 120 000.
During the integration period, service flow of chronic disease management and health assessment will be as follows:
Chronic Disease Management
Elderly persons who have follow-up consultations or examination at the nine EHCs in the first phase may continue to attend their appointments at the EHCs on the scheduled dates. Starting from October 5 this year, after the elderly persons have completed their follow-up consultations, the DHCs will co-ordinate their subsequent follow-ups. Upon registration as DHC members for free, the elderly persons can directly enter the treatment phase of the Chronic Disease Co-Care (CDCC) Scheme after assessment, and receive follow-up care from a community family doctor of their choice. For more information, please visit: https://www.primaryhealthcare.gov.hk/cdcc/en/. In addition, arrangements will be made for elderly persons receiving follow-up consultations at both an EHC under the DH and an FMC under the HA, to continue their follow-up care at the FMC.
Health Assessment
For members who have appointments for health assessment services at the EHCs, the DH will continue to provide services. Members awaiting an appointment date and elderly persons interested in using EHC services will receive a more comprehensive elderly health assessment service at the DHCs starting from December this year. The scope of assessment will be expanded from currently cognition, mobility and vision, to cover nutrition, hearing, psychological capacity and urinary problem. Healthcare professionals will formulate tailored management plans for the elderly persons based on the assessment results.
Arrangement of Episodic Disease Management during Integration
During the transition period of service integration, existing EHC members will be included in the priority groups for HA’s Family Medicine Outpatient (FMOP) service. They may make priority bookings for FMOP episodic consultations via eHealth mobile application.
Arrangements for Underprivileged Elderly
Elderly persons who are recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, recipients of Old Age Living Allowance aged 75 or above, and elderly persons holding a valid Medical Fee Waiver Certificate, upon registering as DHC members, will be arranged to receive preventive elderly health services and assessments at designated HA FMCs. Subject to their eligibility, the relevant fees may be fully or partially waived.
Work ahead
The PHC Commission, together with the DH, will gradually issue letters to EHC members within 2026 to inform them of the service integration and subsequent follow-up arrangements. Meanwhile, the EHCs will update their signage, and the PHC Commission will also progressively refurbish the existing facilities and environment of the EHCs.
Enquiry
Members of the public are welcome to visit or call the EHCs and DHCs for details of the relevant integration arrangements; or call the Primary Healthcare Co-care Network enquiry line at 2157 0500 for enquiries. The enquiry line operates from 9 am to 9 pm, Monday to Saturday, except public holidays.