Fix booking system for dentist visits in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong’s world-class public healthcare system has one major flaw: it is woefully inadequate for dental care
Hong Kong’s public healthcare system ranks favourably in the world, thanks to its professional and heavily subsidised services.
However, the waiting time for non-urgent medical attention can be exceedingly long. The situation is further compounded by the city’s rapidly ageing population.
The shortage of dental services is even more acute, as shown in a report by the Audit Commission. The appointment quota of 11 government clinics has almost halved from 40,322 in 2018-19 to 20,337 in 2022-23.
But the demand rose over the same period, going from filling 92.3 per cent of all available quota spots to 99.2 per cent. The Department of Health attributed the decrease in services to the Covid-19 pandemic and a personnel shortage.
On-site observation by government auditors found that patients often had to line up for hours in person for a limited number of spaces that are up for grabs from 12am each day. Some were seen queuing at about 10pm at three clinics, meaning overnight waiting for consultations might well be the norm.
Hong Kong auditor calls for more dental appointments at public clinics
The shortage of dentists is nothing new. But the problem has been aggravated by a severe brain drain in the medical sector in recent years.
The authorities recorded a 27 per cent vacancy rate as of January. It is estimated that there would be a shortfall of 115 practitioners in 2030, before easing to 102 in 2035. The situation was expected to further improve in 2040.
With almost three-quarters of the city’s 2,504 dentists working outside public clinics, private dental services are beyond the reach of the poor.
The notoriously expensive charges by local private dentists have already prompted more patients to seek relief from clinics that are more affordable across the border.
Unfortunately, many retired and poor elderly simply cannot afford to do so.
The Legislative Council should speed up an amendment to the Dentists Registration Ordinance that would create new pathways to bring in dentists trained abroad.
Meanwhile, patients may have to swallow the pain or queue overnight for subsidised consultations at public clinics. Calls by the auditors for a new booking system and more coverage for urgent cases should be heeded.
