The Health Bureau announced today that the Department of Health’s Woman Health Services will be integrated into the district health network as Women Wellness Satellites (WWS) of the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission), to provide eligible women with prevention-based and more personalised primary healthcare services.

Upon open tendering, the bureau awarded a three-year service contract for the three WWS services and the Central & Western (C&W) District Health Centres (DHCs) to the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals as the operator. The three WWSs and C&W DHC are expected to commence operation within this year.

The three WWSs will be located in Chai Wan, Lam Tin, and Tuen Mun. The Chai Wan one is to start service in June, while the other two will commence operation in September, at the earliest.

In addition to existing services such as health assessments, breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings, WWSs will devise personalised preventive care or specific consultation services according to individual health risks and needs for members' selection.

WWSs will also explore introducing self-sampling for Human Papillomavirus testing to enhance prevention-oriented women's health services.

To promote the family doctor for all concept, they will additionally explore collaboration with family doctors participating in the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme to support and strengthen comprehensive health management and screening services for women.

The bureau said that integrating the department's existing women's health services into the district health network can shorten the waiting time for services, reduce duplication of healthcare services and promote primary healthcare development.

The PHC Commission will commence the integrated women's health services within this year in an orderly manner. DHCs/ DHC Expresses (DHCEs) in the 18 districts will enhance promotion and education related to women's health, as well as provide new dedicated nurse clinics for women's health services to encourage citizens to manage their own health.

The DHCs/DHCEs will also identify women in need through basic health assessments and individual consultations, and refer them to WWSs or the General Out-patient Clinics of the Hospital Authority to receive women's health services as appropriate.

Starting tomorrow, DHCs/DHCEs in the 18 districts will accept registration from women aged 64 or below and provide basic women's health services, conduct initial assessments and arrange referrals to WWSs for scheduling of services as necessary.

The WWSs will adopt a co-payment model, where eligible individuals will receive partial government subsidy and pay a designated fee. The co-payment fee for standard services will be similar to the current charges of the department's Woman Health Centres.

Apart from women's health services, the operator is required to set up a DHC core centre and a satellite centre in the C&W district within the first year of operation. The core centre will be located at 308 Des Voeux Road Central with floor area of about 1,000 sq m, and is expected to commence service in the third quarter.