The basic-tier drug list under the Chronic Disease Co-care Pilot Scheme has been expanded from 59 items to 114 items starting from today.

The Health Bureau said the 55 additional drug items cover antidepressants and drugs for the management of chronic hepatitis B, osteoporosis and thyroid disorder. More items have also been included to address health problems associated with episodic illnesses, such as drugs for relieving asthma exacerbation, gout, nausea and vertigo.

Scheme participants prescribed with drugs on the list need not pay for such medications.

The expanded list will provide family doctors with greater flexibility to cater for patients’ clinical needs, the bureau added.

To date, more than 140,000 people have enrolled in the pilot scheme. As of July 23, about 85,000 participants had completed screenings, with around 34,000 being diagnosed with prediabetes, diabetes mellitus, hypertension or hyperlipidaemia, and proceeding to treatment.