More than 17,300 Hongkongers join new scheme aimed at catching chronic diseases in early stages
- About 1,500 residents found to have diabetes or hypertension, requiring follow-up care, health authorities say
- Subsidised programme matches eligible residents with family doctor and they pay about HK$150 each time for screening, laboratory tests, consultations and medication
More than 17,300 Hongkongers aged 45 or above have joined a new scheme designed to detect chronic diseases at an early stage, with about 1,500 people found to have diabetes or hypertension and who required follow-up care, health authorities have said.
The Health Bureau on Sunday also said that eligible people could enrol in the Chronic Disease Co-care Pilot Scheme at participating family doctors’ clinics within the first four months of the year, with details to be announced soon.
The pilot programme, which started last November, was developed to encourage middle-aged people without a history of diabetes or hypertension to sign up so preventive steps could be taken.
The subsidised programme matches people with a family doctor and they pay about HK$150 (US$19.20) each time for screening, laboratory tests, consultations and medicine.
More than 17,300 people have enrolled so far, with more than 11,000 of them assessed by their family doctors and nearly half having completed the screening process.
In excess of 30 per cent were diagnosed with prediabetes, diabetes or hypertension and needed follow-up.