Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ11: Elderly health centres
Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Kwok-che and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(May 2):
Question:
The Government encourages the elderly to maintain physical and mental
well-being, and 18 elderly health centres (EHCs) have been established by the
Department of Health in various districts of Hong Kong since 1998, offering a
total of some 38 500 membership quotas each year. Calculated on the basis that
there are currently some 940 000 elderly people aged 65 or above in Hong Kong,
EHC membership quotas represent only around 4% of the population in that age
group. Moreover, some elderly people have indicated that they are often unable
to obtain information about the services provided by EHCs due to ineffective
flow of information on such services. In this connection, will the Government
inform this Council:
(a) of the respective annual membership quotas, the quotas for accepting new
members and the numbers of members from other districts in each EHC in 2010-2011
and 2011-2012 (set out in Annex 1);
(b) of the number and rate of member turnover (i.e. the number of members who
did not renew their membership and the percentage of which in the total number
of members) of various EHCs, as well as the average waiting time required for
joining EHC membership in each of the past five years, broken down by EHC;
(c) given that the authorities also acknowledge the keen demand for services
provided by EHCs, of the criteria based on which the authorities decide to
establish only one EHC in each district; the existing staff establishment of
various EHCs;
(d) as some EHC members have complained that they had to wait for as long as 18
months in order to have a physical check-up at an EHC, of the waiting time for
such service under the original estimation of the authorities, and the actual
average waiting time at present; whether the authorities will provide additional
resources to shorten the waiting time required for EHC members to have physical
check-ups; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(e) of the existing number of EHCs installed with automatic main entrance doors
and the number of those installed with "push open" main entrance doors, and
whether the authorities will replace such "push open" doors with automatic
doors; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Department of Health (DH) has established 18 Elderly Health Centres (EHCs)
in Hong Kong, one in each district, to provide comprehensive primary health care
services, including health assessment, physical check-up and curative treatment,
to persons aged 65 or above. The focus of the services is on provision of
individual counselling and health education to elders with such health risks as
propensity to fall, overweight, insufficient physical activities or unhealthy
diet. At present, the 18 EHCs in the territory offer a total of about 38 500
membership quotas each year.
(a) In 2010 and 2011, the total number of members, the number of new members and
the number of members from other districts (with residential address in other
districts) in each of the 18 EHCs are set out in Annex 2.
(b) Between 2007 and 2011, the number of EHC members in various districts who
did not renew their membership and their percentage in the total number of
members are set out in Annex 3.
Between 2007 and 2011, the average waiting time (month) (median) for enrolment
as new members of EHCs in various districts are set out in Annex 4.
(c) Since 1998, DH has established 18 EHCs in Hong Kong, one in each district,
to enhance primary health care for the elderly. At present, each EHC has a
permanent establishment of one doctor, two to three nurses and one to two
clerical staff.
(d) As the service charge of EHCs is very low (the annual membership fee is
$110) and is heavily subsidised, there is a huge demand for EHCs' services. To
shorten the waiting time for EHC membership, EHCs have simplified the
questionnaire used for health assessment and streamlined the items and
procedures of health assessment for existing members, with a view to allocating
additional manpower and resources to meet the needs of elders on the waiting
list. To narrow the gap in waiting time among different EHCs, each EHC provides
information on those EHCs with shorter waiting time for enrolment as members.
Elders may choose to apply for membership at these EHCs. After the
implementation of the above measures, the waiting time of elders has been
reduced significantly.
The ageing population has led to an ever increasing demand for primary health
care services for elders. The provision of substantially subsidised primary
health care services by EHCs is not the most cost-effective and sustainable way
to deliver services to elders in Hong Kong. It is also not possible to meet the
health care needs of all elders through EHCs alone. Apart from EHCs, the general
out-patient clinics under the Hospital Authority (HA), private medical
practitioners and some health centres operated by non-government organisations
(NGOs) also provide primary health care services to elders. At present,
promotional and publicity materials on health assessment services offered by
NGOs which are reasonably priced are also maintained by each EHC to provide
elders with an additional choice. Under the Elderly Health Services of DH,
collaboration with other elderly service providers will continue to be enhanced.
The Government at present has no plan to increase resources for further
expansion of the EHC services.
As at the end of February 2012, the average time lapse from the last health
assessment of members receiving health assessments at EHCs in various districts
are set out in Annex 5.
Existing members who do not feel well during the waiting period for health
assessment may, at any time, seek medical consultation at EHCs without waiting
for the next health assessment.
(e) Among the 18 EHCs under DH, six are located inside HA's general out-patient
clinics and do not have separate main doors. Among the 12 EHCs which have
separate main doors, one has adopted the "automatic door" design whereas the
other eleven have adopted the "push open door" design. In collaboration with the
relevant departments, we are carrying out improvement works to the barrier-free
facilities of these EHCs in two phases in accordance with the Design Manual:
Barrier Free Access 2008 of the Buildings Department under the premise of
providing convenience to elders, after taking into account factors such as the
environment and visitor flow. It is expected that the improvement works will be
completed in 2014.
Ends/Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 13:33
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Annex 1
Annex 2
Annex 3
Annex 4
Annex 5