The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Southern District Health Centre (DHC) today (July 26). He stated that the Government is committed to driving district-based primary healthcare development. Serving as the medical and healthcare resource hubs in the districts, DHCs connect and co-ordinate different medical professionals as well as public and private primary healthcare services at the community level to meet the needs of local residents. The DHCs will also play an important part in liaison and co-ordination upon the introduction of the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Scheme) by the Government in the fourth quarter of this year.
 
     Professor Lo said, "In the Primary Healthcare Blueprint released last December, we set out a series of development directions and strategies to strengthen the primary healthcare system. Hence, the DHCs' role in co-ordinating primary healthcare services and managing cases in the community-based primary healthcare system is all the more indispensable.
 
     "Among all, the DHCs will devote their resources in facilitating the CDCC Scheme. They will make arrangements for eligible members to undergo health risk factor assessments so as to identify diabetes mellitus and hypertension patients who have not yet developed any symptoms. The DHCs will also actively assist in the matching of these members with family doctors of their own choice, thereby enabling the members to manage their health in private primary healthcare institutions at an affordable price with government subsidies. Throughout the process, the DHCs will also continue to provide personalised health information and advice to their members, while leveraging the service networks in the districts to connect the members to healthcare services that suit their needs and offer cross-professional follow-up. All these will enable the members to manage and prevent chronic diseases, thus safeguarding their health."
 
     The DHCs or DHC Expresses were established across the city, providing comprehensive, sustainable and people-centred multidisciplinary primary healthcare services in the community. The DHCs are actively promoting the concept of "Family Doctor for All" to foster long-term doctor-patient relationships and help citizens draw up personalised health plans. In addition, the DHCs will continue to reinforce medical-social collaboration, including deepening co-operation with District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) and non-governmental organisations, with a view to reaching out to citizens from all walks of life to a greater extent and providing them with more targeted healthcare services and support.
 
     The Southern DHC, operated by the Aberdeen Kai-fong Welfare Association, has commenced services in phases since late October last year. Its core centre is located at Vertical Sq in Wong Chuk Hang with four satellite centres set up or to be opened in the district. The two satellite centres at Aberdeen Main Road and Stanley Main Street are already in operation while the remaining ones to be set up at Chi Fu Fa Yuen and Lei Tung Commercial Centre will commence service this coming August. The core centre features a smart rehabilitation area and a smart sports area, which utilise innovative technology to provide members with effective chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services. The multidisciplinary team of the Southern DHC comprises nurses, allied health professionals, a pharmacist, social workers and supporting staff to offer various government-subsidised primary healthcare services to citizens. The DHC also engages healthcare practitioners in the district or nearby areas to construct a cross-professional network, while working with other community partners who provide social welfare and healthcare services in the district so as to supervise service referral for the citizens in need.
 
     The core centre of the Southern DHC opens from 11am to 9pm on Mondays and Fridays, from 10am to 8pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and closes on Sundays and public holidays. As for the satellite centres, the opening hours are from 10am to 8pm from Mondays to Saturdays. The satellite centres also close on Sundays and public holidays. Members of the public are welcome to register as members of the DHC to enjoy the services. They may also call the centre's hotline at 3575 7000 to enquire about relevant information, or visit the webpage www.dhc.gov.hk for more details on the DHCs and DHC Expresses.
 
     Also attending the opening ceremony today were Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee; the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Pang Fei-chau; the Chairman of the Aberdeen Kai-fong Welfare Association, Mr Chow Kei-chung; the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Southern DHC, Mr Charles Wong; and Co-convenor of the Care Teams in the Southern District Mr Chu Lap-wai.

Ends/Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:30

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