Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ17: Elderly Health Centres

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Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao (in the absence of Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food), in the Legislative Council today (March 22):

Question :

The 18 Elderly Health Centres (EHCs) under the Department of Health currently provide services of health assessment, physical check-up, counselling and curative treatment for about 40 000 elderly members. As at December 2004, about 25 000 elderly people were waiting for enrolment as EHC members and the median waiting time was 26 months. Recently, I have received complaints from many elderly people about the excessively long waiting time. In the paper on "Building a Healthy Tomorrow", the authorities estimate that, with an aging population, one in five people will be over the age of 65 by 2023. Besides, a social service organisation has conducted a survey and found that 40% of the elderly are unaware of the services provided by the EHCs. In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:

(a) whether they will open additional EHCs and increase the membership size of the existing ones; if not, of the reasons for that;

(b) of the measures taken to shorten the waiting time;

(c) whether they have set targets for shortening the waiting time; if so, of the targets; if not, the reasons for that;

(d) given that the services provided by the EHCs are insufficient to meet the demand, whether the authorities plan to subsidise the elderly to undergo physical check-ups at private medical institutions; and

(e) how they will ensure that the elderly are generally aware of the services provided by the EHCs?


Reply :

Madam President,

(a) The Department of Health's (DH) Elderly Health Centres (EHCs) provide services including health assessment, general out-patient services, physical check-ups, individual counselling and health education. As the charge is very reasonable (the annual membership fee is $110) and is heavily subsidised, there is a huge demand for EHCs' services.

Public resources are limited. EHCs alone cannot meet the health care needs of all the elders. Also, EHCs are not the only provider of primary health care services for elders. The followings are also key components of our health care services for elders:

(i) the 18 Visiting Health Teams (VHTs) of DH organise health talks and other health promotion activities for elders and carers, in collaboration with the 200 or so elderly centres run by non-government organisations (NGOs) with Government subsidy;

(ii) DH has produced do-it-yourself health educational kits to further promote health education and disease prevention. Also, DH collaborates with various elderly centres to help them use risk assessment tools to conduct risk assessments for elders;

(iii) elderly centres conduct health education to elders in the community;

(iv) the Hospital Authority is running more than 70 General Out-patient Clinics (GOPCs) to provide general out-patient services for the general public. Elders are major users of GOPCs' services;

(v) various NGOs are operating health clinics on a self-financing basis; and

(vi) private medical practitioners are also key providers of primary medical care for elders. In the discussion paper on "Building a Healthy Tomorrow", the Health and Medical Development Advisory Committee recommended the Government to promote the family doctor concept and leverage effectively on the private medical sector to provide primary medical care services.

In 2005, health talks and health promotion activities jointly organised by VHTs and EHCs for elders and carers had a total attendance of 460 000. Most of the participants were not members of the EHCs. Also, the 200 or so elderly centres organised health education activities for over 170 000 elders. Around 150 000 elders received influenza vaccination provided by the Government last year.

DH will strengthen collaboration with the stakeholders including private practitioners and NGOs to enhance primary health care services for elders.

(b) & (c) Public resources are limited. EHCs alone cannot meet the health care needs of all the elders. DH will strengthen collaboration with the aforementioned stakeholders including private practitioners and NGOs to enhance primary health care services for elders.

The staffing situation and the complexity of the cases may affect the total number of enrolments of EHCs, and the total number of attendances for health assessment and medical consultation conducted by them in a particular year. DH projects that EHCs' membership may increase from 37 400 in 2005 to 38 000 in 2006.

(d) While physical check-ups may facilitate early detection of diseases, the most effective ways to prevent diseases are to understand their causes, the prevention methods and risk factors, maintain a healthy lifestyle (such as refraining from smoking, keeping a balanced diet, taking exercises regularly, pursuing a normal social life and be positive), and consult doctors when there are symptoms of illnesses. The discussion paper on Building a Healthy Tomorrow recommended the Government to strengthen preventive care through public education. It is more important and cost effective to take the aforementioned preventive measures than conduct physical check-ups.

DH will continue to enhance the health of our elders along this direction. DH has no plan to provide physical check-ups for all the elders in Hong Kong, or subsidise them to do so.

(e) As regards publicity, DH would reach out to the community through various channels to educate and raise the awareness of elders and carers on the holistic approach to health care and disease prevention.



Ends/Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:57

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12 Apr 2019