Working Paper Series

Abstract: With the low fertility rate over the years and the increasing longevity of people in Hong Kong, it is expected that population aged 65 or above will be as high as 32 percent by mid-2046. Primary health care offers a comprehensive and holistic service package to improve and strengthen primary care and health functions, highlighting the importance of assigning a long-term health partner so as to make better use of healthcare resources and to enhance quality of care. The reform consultation documents, Your Health, Your Life and Building a Healthy Tomorrow, introduce a basic model in which a system is established to register medical professionals, provide subsidies and improve primary care. Primary care adopts an integrative approach involving professionals to deliver a wide range of services comprising of health promotion, prevention of treatment and care for acute and chronic diseases, health risk assessment and disease identification, self-management support, and supportive care for end-stage diseases or disabilities. The Hong Kong Government has put great efforts in interdepartmental and cross-sectoral collaboration to provide professional, high quality and timely services. An example of this is public-private partnership offering healthcare programmes to individuals and the community, and it has proven beneficial in terms of resource allocation and continuation of long-term service packages. In the latest Policy Address, the Government intends to facilitate the partnership and to draw up a blueprint for expansion and provision of primary healthcare services. To achieve total primary care, input of expertise and experience of all stakeholders are desired to establish a quality care system that is within the easy reach of everyone in the community.