Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau today officiated at the opening ceremony of the Southern District Health Centre (DHC) and said the Government is committed to driving district-based primary healthcare development.

He noted that DHCs serve as the medical and healthcare resource hubs in the districts, which connect and co-ordinate different medical professionals as well as public and private primary healthcare services at the community level to meet local residents’ needs.

The DHCs will also play an important part in liaison and co-ordination when the Government introduces the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme in the fourth quarter of this year, the health chief added.

Prof Lo said: “In the Primary Healthcare Blueprint released last December, we set out a series of development directions and strategies to strengthen the primary healthcare system. Hence, the DHCs' role in co-ordinating primary healthcare services and managing cases in the community-based primary healthcare system is all the more indispensable.

"Among all, the DHCs will devote their resources in facilitating the scheme. They will make arrangements for eligible members to undergo health risk factor assessments so as to identify diabetes mellitus and hypertension patients who have not yet developed any symptoms.

“The DHCs will also actively assist in the matching of these members with family doctors of their own choice, thereby enabling the members to manage their health in private primary healthcare institutions at an affordable price with government subsidies.”

He also noted that throughout the process, the DHCs will continue to provide personalised health information and advice to their members, while leveraging the service networks in the districts to connect them to healthcare services that suit their needs and offer cross-professional follow-up.

“All these will enable the members to manage and prevent chronic diseases, thus safeguarding their health.”

The Southern DHC has started services in phases since late October last year. Located at Vertical Sq in Wong Chuk Hang, the core centre features a smart rehabilitation area and a smart sports area, which utilise innovative technology to provide members with effective chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services. 

The two satellite centres at Aberdeen Main Road and Stanley Main Street are already in operation, while the remaining two to be set up at Chi Fu Fa Yuen and Lei Tung Commercial Centre will begin service in August.