The Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) will be expanded to provide preventive screening services in General Out-patient Clinics (GOPCs) for the underprivileged group, the Health Bureau announced today.

The bureau explained that beginning March 28, the Primary Health Care Commission will expand the CDCC Pilot Scheme under the Hospital Authority in phases.

The first phase will be piloted in seven GOPCs, with plans to add six other GOPCs by the end of June.

Starting March 28, recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, those receiving the Old Age Living Allowance aged 75 or above, or people holding a valid medical fee waiver certificate interested in joining the CDCC Pilot Scheme can first visit the District Health Centres (DHCs) or DHC Expresses for an initial assessment.

DHCs/DHC Expresses will arrange for participants to receive preventive screening services at designated GOPCs, with the same service scope as the CDCC Pilot Scheme.

The GOPCs will contact the participants and arrange appointments for them within one month upon receiving referrals from the DHCs/DHC Expresses. The clinics will also arrange laboratory tests based on the participant's health risk, formulate a health management plan based on the test results, and provide health education and counselling services.

The fees for using the preventive care services for eligible people will be fully or partially waived according to their eligibility within one year from the date of receiving their first service.

Participants' eligibility will be verified again after the one-year service period.

The Government plans to gradually expand the pilot services to designated GOPC service points across all 18 districts by the fourth quarter of this year.