Primary Care Initiatives

The Chief Executive announced in the 2008-09 Policy Address that the Government would explore the concept of Community Health Centres (CHCs) as one of the policy initiatives on enhancing primary care.

CHCs aim to offer the public one-stop, better co-ordinated and more comprehensive primary care services. The idea of setting up CHCs and CHC-like networks, staffed by healthcare professionals from different disciplines working together in the community as a team, has been discussed by the Working Group on Primary Care chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health and its Task Forces.

The Government is exploring various CHC-type models with healthcare professionals and providers from the public and private sectors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and universities.

The Government will also continue to plan various CHC pilot projects that aim to foster the provision of more comprehensive one-stop primary care services in consultation with relevant stakeholders. These CHC pilot projects may involve re-structuring existing health facilities currently accommodating various primary care services, developing new health facilities in newly developed or redeveloped areas, or creating networks among different primary care providers in close proximity to the community.

Tin Shui Wai (Tin Yip Road) Community Health Centre, the first CHC established in accordance with the primary care development strategy and service delivery model, has officially commenced operation in June 2012.