Hong Kong Expands Dental Services for Underprivileged with New Community Program
Hong Kong is set to enhance dental care accessibility for its underprivileged residents with the launch of the Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP) on May 26. This initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Health (DH), aims to supplement existing dental grants under the Complete Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme and emergency services provided by government dental clinics.
Community Dental Support Programme (CDSP)
The CDSP is designed to substantially increase service capacity, aiming to serve at least double the current quotas of dental general public sessions (GP sessions) at government dental clinics, translating to approximately 40,000 participants annually.
Did you know? The CDSP aims to provide preventive and curative oral health services, emphasizing early intervention to encourage people to retain thier teeth.
To broaden its reach, the DH collaborated with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). At the end of last year, the DH invited eligible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to participate in the CDSP to provide additional service points.
To date, 32 NGOs are participating, offering nearly 80 dental service points across all 18 districts in Hong kong.
- Expanded Services: Beyond tooth extraction and pain relief, the program now includes tooth filling services when deemed appropriate by dentists.
- Increased Efficiency: Participants can receive treatment for up to three teeth per visit, compared to the current GP sessions which address one tooth per visit.
Eligibility Criteria
The CDSP targets underprivileged individuals who face difficulties accessing dental care. To be eligible, service users must:
- Hold a Hong Kong identity card.
- Be enrolled in the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth).
- be a current beneficiary or recipient of one of the following:
- Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) of the Social Welfare Department (SWD).
- Community Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly (level 2 of co-payment category) of the SWD.
- Integrated Home Care Services (Frail Cases) (IHCS (Frail Cases)), or Enhanced Home and Community Care Services (EHCCS) or Home Support Services (HSS) (Level 1 or Level 2 fee charge or co-payment category) of the SWD.
- Patients of Hospital Authority (HA) who have been provided Medical Fee Waiver (full waiving and partial waiving) of the HA.
Subsidized Services and Fees
Under the CDSP, each eligible individual can apply for subsidized dental services once every 180 days. Services include:
- oral health assessment.
- Medication for dental pain relief (when necessary).
- X-ray examination.
- Dental filling or extraction, with each tooth counted as a “Teeth Filling/Extraction Quota”.
A nominal administration fee of $50 per tooth (for filling or extraction) is required, capped at $150 per visit (covering a maximum of three teeth every 180 days). The government fully subsidizes this fee for:
- Recipients of IHCS (Frail Cases), EHCCS or HSS (Level 1 fee charge or co-payment category) of the SWD.
- Those eligible under the Medical Fee Waiver (full waiving) of the HA, including OALA recipients aged 75 or above.
pro Tip: While CSSA recipients can apply for the CDSP, they can also utilize dental grants under the CSSA for comprehensive dental services.
Digital Integration and Outreach
Service users can access their consultation records,including dates and treatment details,through the eHealth app. Enhanced electronic oral health records will be available later this year to facilitate better monitoring of dental conditions.
The DH is conducting briefing sessions for District Services and Community care Teams (Care Teams) to promote the CDSP and ensure that underprivileged individuals are aware of the available support.
A dedicated webpage (www.communitydental.gov.hk/en/cdsp/) provides a comprehensive list of participating NGO dental clinics. Eligible individuals can visit the site to select a clinic and schedule an appointment for subsidized dental care services starting May 26. Those with eligibility questions should contact their registered social worker.
Optimizing existing services
In addition to the CDSP, the DH is increasing the service quotas of GP sessions by nearly 30% starting in June and streamlining the registration process.
The online registration system for dental general public session (ORDGP), launched on December 30, 2024, has improved accessibility, especially for the elderly. The system includes an over-subscription ballot and waiting list mechanism,resulting in a 99% utilization rate of GP sessions.
Following amendments to the dentists Registration bill in July 2024, the DH has recruited over 65 new dentists, including nine non-locally trained dentists with limited registration.This has increased the manpower ratio of active dentists from 69% to 81%, enabling the increase in GP session quotas.
Further enhancements to the ORDGP are planned for late June, including:
- Real-time identity authentication via “iAM Smart” or “eHealth” apps.
- Auto-complete function to minimize repeated entries.
- Appointment cancellation function.
- Upgraded waiting list mechanism with automatic distribution of service quotas.
Government’s Commitment
The DH will implement the development strategies and recommendations made by the Working Group on Oral Health and Dental Care, and continue to help members of the public manage their own oral health through publicity, education, promotion and development of primary oral health and dental care, emphasising on prevention, early identification, and timely intervention to encourage people to retain their teeth.
Department of Health
The DH will also focus on providing essential dental services to the underprivileged, including those with financial difficulties, disabilities, special needs, and high-risk groups, through public or subsidized models.
