Elderly get dental subsidy

May 22, 2013

Under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme, seniors aged 70 or above can make use of the vouchers for dental services provided by private dental clinics and those run by non-government organisations.
 
Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man told lawmakers today the Government increased the annual voucher amount to $1,000 from January 1.
 
He said there are about 2,060 registered dentists in the city, and 372 are participating in the scheme so far.
 
Most elderly residing in residential care homes or receiving services in day-care centres are physically weak, so their frail condition has made it difficult for them to receive dental care at clinics.
 
"In the light of this, the Government launched the three-year Pilot Project on Outreach Primary Dental Care Services for the Elderly in residential care homes and day-care centres in collaboration with NGOs in April 2011 to provide outreach primary dental care and oral health care services to these elders. The Pilot Project is expected to provide services for about 100,000 attendances."
 
The Community Care Fund has also set aside $100 million for the Elderly Dental Assistance Programme to subsidise seniors needing dentures and other dental services, he said, adding it launched last September and is expected to run for two years, benefiting 9,680 people.
 
For elderly in financial difficulty, Dr Ko said dental grants are given under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme to recipients aged 60 or above, disabled, or medically certified to be in ill health.