Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau today chaired the 15th meeting of the Steering Committee on Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases to review the implementation of various actions under Towards 2025: Strategy & Action Plan to Prevent & Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong Kong (SAP).

The committee discussed the strategies and measures for tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with representatives of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Department of Health, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department, the Leisure & Cultural Services Department, the Hospital Authority and relevant organisations.

Prof Lo said like many other regions and countries, Hong Kong is confronted with the threats arising from an ageing population and worsening NCDs.

Major NCDs - cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and chronic respiratory diseases - accounted for around half of all registered deaths in Hong Kong in 2023.

He said: “We cannot turn a blind eye to such a burden brought about by NCDs on the city's healthcare system. In this connection, we must join hands with citizens and all sectors of society to prevent and control NCDs.”

The health chief highlighted that the Department of Health conducts citywide population health surveys on a regular basis to collect information on the health status and health-related behaviours of the local population.

Meanwhile, the fourth citywide population health survey in 2025 is in the pipeline to facilitate the review of the nine targets under the SAP and formulate the prevention and control strategies beyond 2025.

Moreover, the Government has been pushing ahead with the work set out in the Primary Healthcare Blueprint since its release in December 2022 in a bid to build a prevention-centred primary healthcare system.

Members expressed support for the Government's Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme and agreed on the provision of targeted subsidies, including those for laboratory investigations and drugs, to Hong Kong citizens aged 45 or above and having no unknown medical history of hypertension or diabetes mellitus as an incentive for them to participate in the scheme by matching with a family doctor.