Hong Kong plans wider primary-care network in reform push

Health centres will offer screening, health checks, and chronic-disease management.

Hong Kong plans to bring private doctors, community pharmacies and allied health providers into district health centres (DHC) under a reform push aimed at expanding access and easing pressure on public hospitals.

“Primary care has existed for a long time, but records have been lacking,” Lawrence Iu, executive director at public policy think tank Civic Exchange, told Hong Kong Business. “Instead of leaving regulation only to professional bodies, the government will now also oversee the sector.”

The government is preparing a bill that will let the Primary Healthcare Commission build wider care networks, set citywide service standards and monitor the quality of subsidised services, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said in his 2025 policy address in September.

The planned networks will revolve around district health centres, which offer screening, health checks, and chronic-disease management.

In a Zoom call, Iu said Hong Kong’s public hospitals handle about 90% of inpatient cases yet account for only two-thirds of healthcare spending, highlighting a structural imbalance.

He added that recent crises showed the limits of the setup. During the Tai Po fire, which left 159 dead and 79 injured, these centres supplied medicine and mental-health services to displaced residents.

Shin Thant Aung, director at Singapore-based consulting firm YCP Holdings (Global) Ltd., expects the reforms to create clearer referral pathways. Patients referred by health centres will get priority at public specialist clinics, whilst stable cases will be returned to community care to reduce bottlenecks.

“Post-reform, we anticipate a 10% reduction in waiting time for stable new surgery cases at Health Authority specialist clinics,” he said in an emailed reply to questions. “That is roughly 10 weeks saved.”

He added that the city’s upgraded eHealth+ platform would let providers across the network share patient information and coordinate treatment more effectively.

The reforms are also expected to broaden access to screening and chronic-disease programmes. Aung said Hong Kong has about a million undiagnosed hypertensive or diabetic residents.

As of August, the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme had enrolled more than 140,000 people since its launch in November 2023, and is on track to hit its three-year target of about 200,000 ahead of schedule.

“DHC attendance is projected to exceed three million visits as coverage expands across all 18 districts,” he said.

Still, analysts warned of challenges. Performance may vary across districts, particularly among newer district health centre operators. Iu said the shift of women’s and elderly health services into the network could temporarily disrupt care unless communication is clear.

He also noted that patient behaviour hinges on convenience. “If it isn’t convenient, people may still use the old approach—calling emergency services and going directly to the hospital again.”

Manpower remains a major constraint, with most family doctors working privately. Aung added that Hong Kong would need a third medical school, overseas recruitment and the Top Talent Pass Scheme to meet rising demand for family doctors and allied health professionals.