The Primary Healthcare Commission announced that from July 2, occupational and physiotherapists in government-subsidized healthcare programs must register with the Primary Care Directory and join eHealth. They have until Sep. 1 to complete this. Early registration is encouraged to maintain public access to subsidized services.
The Primary Healthcare Blueprint also recommends expanding the Directory to include more healthcare professionals and creating sub-directories for allied health workers. This is to ensure participation in continuing education and improve primary healthcare quality. It also suggests all providers use eHealth for better service continuity and collaboration.
To minimize disruptions for citizens using these subsidized services, the PHC Commission has been in close contact with OTs and PTs since March, providing details about the new requirements and assisting with their enrollment in the PCD and eHealth. OTs and PTs who do not register by the end of the grace period (Sep. 2) will no longer be able to offer subsidized services.
The public can check with their OTs or PTs or visit the PCD website (apps.pcdirectory.gov.hk/Public/EN) to verify if they are registered, ensuring they can continue receiving services from the same provider after the grace period.
The PCD is an online database containing practice information and qualifications of community-based primary healthcare providers. It allows the public to find details such as addresses, phone numbers, consultation hours, and service offerings, enabling them to choose suitable providers based on their needs. Following the establishment of sub-directories for OTs and PTs, the government will continue to develop similar directories for other healthcare professionals to promote multidisciplinary collaboration in delivering comprehensive primary healthcare services.
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