Press Releases
Community Care Fund Task Force visits dental clinic to learn about implementation of Elderly Dental Assistance Programme (with photos)
The following is issued on behalf of the Community Care Fund Secretariat:
The Chairperson of the Community Care Fund (CCF) Task Force under the
Commission on Poverty (CoP), Dr Law Chi-kwong, the President of the Hong
Kong Dental Association (HKDA), Dr Sigmund Leung, and a CCF Task Force
member, Mr Clarence Leung, today (April 26) visited a dental clinic operated
by a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Accompanied by the Chief Executive
of Yan Chai Hospital Board, Mr Alfred Wong, they met with dentists and
elderly beneficiaries participating in the CCF Elderly Dental Assistance
Expanded Programme to learn about the implementation of the programme.
Dr Law said, "The Elderly Dental Assistance Programme was expanded in
September 2015 to cover elderly persons who are Old Age Living Allowance
recipients aged 80 or above. So far, over 10 000 elderly people have applied
for services provided under the Expanded Programme. Thanks to the staunch
support of private dentists and dental clinics operated by the NGOs
participating in the programme, more needy elders are able to eat normally
which helps upkeep their health."
The HKDA is responsible for implementing the Elderly Dental Assistance
Programme. The President of the HKDA, Dr Leung, said, "Currently, about 400
private dentists and 57 dental clinics operated by NGOs have joined the
Expanded Programme, and registered as community care dentists. We will
continue our efforts to recruit more dentists through different channels to
participate in the programme and provide dental services to eligible elderly
persons."
Dr Law added, "We would consider expanding the target beneficiaries of the
Expanded Programme to other age groups progressively, having regard to the
progress of implementation and the overall manpower situation in the local
dental profession. The CCF has earmarked $800 million to meet the
expenditure of the programme in the first three years. If necessary, the CCF
will consider seeking an additional allocation from the CoP to tie in with
the progress in the implementation of the programme."
Ends/Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:55
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