A $284.06 million contract has been awarded to run a district health centre in Kwai Tsing, the Food & Health Bureau announced today.

The contract was awarded through open tender to the Kwai Tsing Safe Community & Healthy City Association.

The association has to start running a core centre no later than October 1, for three years.

It will also set up five satellite centres in different parts of Kwai Tsing within one year after commencement of the core centre.

The core centre will be located at Kowloon Commerce Centre with 1,500 sq m of net operating floor area, providing health promotion and educational activities, health assessment and chronic disease management for 10 hours per day and six days a week.

Its operator needs to develop a network of medical and healthcare practitioners to provide multiple access and service points for a good range of co-ordinated care and support services within the district, offering a convenient alternative to frequenting hospitals.

The Food & Health Bureau said the Kwai Tsing District Health Centre is a pilot scheme with a brand new operation mode and funding support from the Government.

Taking into account the experience of the pilot centre in Kwai Tsing, the Government will set up similar centres in other districts, the bureau added.