The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced today that the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme will be extended to Foshan with two new service points, and expanded with an additional service point in Zhongshan and another one in Guangzhou.

Starting July 9, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Zhongshan and Guangdong Clifford Hospital in Guangzhou will be covered by the pilot scheme.

From July 17, the First People’s Hospital of Foshan and the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, both in Foshan, will also be included in the scheme.

Eligible Hong Kong senior citizens may use Elderly Health Care Vouchers (EHCVs) to pay for the outpatient healthcare services fee at designated departments. The service fees are denominated in renminbi.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said the pilot scheme will be launched at a traditional Chinese medicine hospital for the first time, providing elderly people with additional choices in healthcare services.

With the four additional service points, the number of service points in the Greater Bay Area where EHCVs can be used will increase to 15, benefitting more than 1.78 million eligible Hong Kong elderly people.

EHCVs are applicable for outpatient healthcare services provided by 12 departments at Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 13 departments at Guangdong Clifford Hospital, 14 departments at the First People’s Hospital of Foshan, and 15 departments at the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University.

Users should register with eHealth before using EHCVs at GBA service points, the Hong Kong SAR Government added.

Separately, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it is actively taking forward the implementation of the pilot scheme in six other medical institutions. It is expected that the arrangements will be launched gradually in the second half of this year.