The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) under the Health Bureau will enhance primary healthcare services for the elderly. 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, adopting a new service model that will provide more comprehensive primary healthcare services for the elderly.
The PHC Commission will integrate nine EHCs in the first phase, including North District, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun Wu Hong, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Shing, San Po Kong, Yau Ma Tei, Shau Kei Wan and Aberdeen. Integration of the remaining nine centres is expected to be completed within the year of 2027-28.
After 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 Family Medicine Clinics (FMCs) of the Hospital Authority (HA). 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 elderly persons.
During the integration period, service flow of chronic disease management and health assessment will be as follows:
Chronic Disease Management
Elderly persons with follow-up consultations or examination appointments at the nine EHCs in the first phase should continue to attend their respective EHCs as scheduled. After consultations, subsequent follow-up arrangements will be coordinated by DHCs starting from 5 October this year. Elderly persons can register as DHC members free of charge, then they may be directly enrolled into the treatment phase of the Chronic Disease Co-Care (CDCC) Scheme after assessment, and continue follow-up with a family doctor of their choice in the community. For more information, please visit: https://www.primaryhealthcare.gov.hk/cdcc/en/. On the other hand, if elderly persons are concurrently receiving follow-up at both EHC and HA FMC, they will be arranged to continue their follow-up at FMC for their convenience.
Health Assessment
For members who have appointments for health assessment services, the EHCs will continue to provide the service. For members who do not have an appointment date or intend to use EHC services, they will receive a more comprehensive elderly health assessment service at 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. Based on the assessment results, further investigations will be arranged and tailored management plans will be formulated.
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
To focus on addressing the healthcare needs of the underprivileged elderly, 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 free-of-charge registration as DHC members, will be arranged to receive preventive elderly health services and assessments at designated HA FMCs. Subject to their eligibility, they will be granted full or partial fee waivers.
Work ahead
In order to inform EHC members of the service integration and subsequent follow-up arrangements as early as possible, the PHC Commission, together with the DH, will gradually issue letters to elderly members in the coming weeks. 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 PHC 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.