Hong Kong Homeless to Gain Access to Expanded Dental Care

New Initiative to Double Capacity for Underprivileged Dental Care

A new dental care initiative in Hong Kong aims to provide services to at least 40,000 underprivileged individuals annually, including the homeless, according to a report published by the South China Morning Post. The scheme, set to launch in the second quarter of next year, will double the capacity of the city’s current public dental services.

The programme is part of broader measures announced by health authorities last week to enhance public oral health by expanding care coverage and addressing manpower shortages in dentistry.

Focused Collaboration with Social Welfare Organisations

Permanent Secretary for Health Thomas Chan Chung-ching highlighted the importance of working with social welfare organisations to extend the reach of the programme. “Providing services to the homeless, for example, is not easy, even if you want to,” Chan said. “Therefore, one way the support programme is approaching this is by collaborating with social welfare organisations that already have service networks.”

These organisations will play a key role in identifying and referring individuals with dental issues to non-governmental clinics participating in the initiative. “This way, we can help them receive the necessary preventive or therapeutic services,” Chan added.

Doubling Public Dental Care Capacity

Dr. Kitty Hse Mei-yin, consultant in charge of the Department of Health’s dental services, emphasized that the scheme’s goal is to address the shortfall in dental care access. “We believe that the current quota for government clinics is insufficient, which is why the government will be launching this Community Dental Support Programme,” she said.

With the programme’s implementation, the annual service capacity will rise from the current levels to accommodate double the number of patients, prioritising those in need.

Affordable Dental Services for Adolescents

In a related measure, the government is rolling out a programme to subsidise dental care for teenagers aged 13 to 17. Under the scheme, adolescents will pay just HK$200 (US$26) for an annual dental check-up at private clinics, with the government covering half the cost.

While the subsidised rate is below market prices, Chan expressed confidence in recruiting enough participating dentists. “The Dental Association has been in discussions with us for a long time, and it actually played a part in coming up with this scheme, so we are confident that they are also urging their peers to participate in this plan as a form of social service,” he said.

The programme aims to encourage young people to establish long-term relationships with private dentists in their communities, fostering regular dental care habits.

Reducing Waiting Times Through a New Online Registration System

To address long queues at public dental clinics, a new online registration system will launch on December 30. This system will allow residents, particularly elderly individuals, to sign up for emergency dental services and select from three clinics.

Appointments will be allocated through a lottery system, with times communicated to patients digitally. Dr. Hse explained that the system is designed to reduce wait times and improve service accessibility for those in urgent need.

Enhancing Public Oral Health Across Hong Kong

These initiatives reflect Hong Kong’s efforts to tackle systemic challenges in public dental care by addressing accessibility, affordability, and capacity issues. By targeting vulnerable populations and introducing measures to streamline service delivery, the city is taking steps to improve oral health outcomes for all residents.

This article is based on a report published by the South China Morning Post. For the original article, visit SCMP.com.