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In a further effort to promote primary care uptake, the Elderly Health Care Voucher
Scheme (EHCVS) was initiated in 2009 as a pilot scheme intended to encourage older
individuals to access primary care services available within the private sector. In 2012, the
pilot scheme was transformed into a recurrent programme, and further enhancements were
made since then, including increasing the annual vouchers to HKD 2,000, providing a one-off
voucher valued at HKD 1,000 in 2019, lowering the eligibility age from 70 to 65, and allowing
more older populations to use outpatient services provided by designated departments of
the Hong Kong University-Shenzhen Hospital (HKSARG, n.d.-a).

Separately, a Primary Care Office (PCO) was set up in 2010 under the DH. PCO
provided support on policy formulation and strategic development on primary care. The
office coordinates DH, HA, private healthcare providers and other relevant stakeholders for
the implementation of policies and initiatives to enhance primary care (Legislative Council
Panel on Health Services, 2010). Two Reference Frameworks for Diabetes Care and
Hypertension Care for Adults in Primary Care Settings were also published (PHO, 2020).

Box 1.5

The Primary Care Development Strategy Document
(2010)

Following WHO’s frameworks in the Declaration of Alma-Ata (1978) and the
Declaration of Astana (2018), Hong Kong’s DH has positioned primary care
as the first level of care in the whole healthcare system, while secondary and
tertiary care mainly include specialist and hospital services.
The Primary Care Development Strategy Document was published and
adopted in 2010, delineating the vast range of services that primary care
comprises of as follows (Legislative Council Panel on Health Services, 2011):
The key attributes of good primary care entail the provision of
accessible first contact care that is comprehensive,
continuing, co-ordinated and person-centred in the context
of family and community. Primary care contributes to the health of the
population and covers a wide range of services which includes the delivery
and provision of:

• health promotion;
• prevention of acute and chronic diseases;
• health risk assessment and disease identification;
• treatment and care for acute and chronic diseases;
• self-management support;
• rehabilitative, supportive, and palliative care for disability or end-stage
diseases.

Sources: Legislative Council Panel on Health Services, 2011; Working Group on Primary Care, 2010

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