To reduce the pressure of the government’s dental street clinics, the Community Dental Support Scheme will be launched on the 26th of this month. Eligible disadvantaged groups can receive services such as fillings and tooth extractions.
The Department of Health has collaborated with 32 non-governmental organizations to provide fillings and tooth extractions in 77 dental clinics in 18 districts across Hong Kong, with an estimated annual service of about 40,000 people. Eligible persons include recipients of the Longevity Grant, second-tier recipients of the Elderly Community Care Service Voucher Scheme, and patients who have received medical fee reductions from the Hospital Authority.
Calculated from the day of consultation, one service can be received within 180 days, including oral examinations, X-ray examinations, etc., with a maximum of three “filling or extraction quotas” in half a year. People aged 75 or below who are recipients of the Longevity Grant and Elderly Community Service Vouchers are required to pay an administrative fee of $50 per tooth to the clinic, while most other beneficiaries are exempted.
Senior dentist of the Department of Health’s Community Dental Service, Dr. Wong Wing-sze, said: “Some people have assets similar to those of Comprehensive Assistance recipients, so the government believes that their administrative fees should be fully subsidized by the government, and the amount of government funding will be given to relevant non-governmental organizations.”
In addition, due to the increase in dental manpower, starting from next month 1, the nine government dental clinics are expected to increase the number of street service places by 30%, to a total of about 24,000 to 26,000 people per year, and the number of places will not overlap with the community dental support program.
Department of Health Dental Service Consultant Dr. Hui Mei-yin said: “Our street dental patients are mainly for tooth extraction and pain relief. In addition to emergency cases, the community dental program can also provide tooth fillings if you want to keep your teeth. Our two complement each other.”
The Department of Health said that since the introduction of the online registration and waiting mechanism last year, the street dental quota has been 100% utilized.
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