Hong Kong to set up online public dental booking system by this year, but health official warns against ‘utopian’ expectation of no queuing
- Dr Ronald Lam, director of health, says government is discussing digital system with contractors, with plans for help stations for elderly
- Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau tempers expectations that government efforts will eliminate queuing, saying it is ‘utopian idea’
Hong Kong health authorities have said an online booking system for government-run dental clinics is due for completion within this year, but cautioned that eliminating queuing is a “utopian” notion.
Dr Ronald Lam Man-kin, the director of health, said on Friday the government was discussing the online booking system with contractors.
He added authorities anticipated the elderly might not be familiar with the online system, and help stations would be set up to assist with the booking.
“Under the shortage of resources and supply, distributing preregistration tickets is not the most ideal arrangement,” Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Friday.
“In the long term, the best case scenario, of course, will be not needing to queue up. It is a utopian idea that all medical services will be available right away without the need to queue up.”
The preregistration arrangement was introduced in 2022 so that patients would no longer need to queue overnight for dental services, Lo said.