New Dental Registration System Eases Access for Elderly, Implements Waiting List to Reduce No-Shows

Queuing up early for chips became history: DH optimises online registration system for dental general public session to ensure effective use of public healthcare resources

The Department of Health (DH) said today (January 3) that the online registration system for the dental general public session (ORDGP) has been operating smoothly since its launch on December 30, 2024, and is pleased that the public, especially the elderly, no longer need to brave the wind and rain to go to the dental clinics to queue up in the early morning to compete for a disc quota. The DH also noted that there were cases in the past three service days where individuals who were successfully allocated quotas for the service did not attend the appointment. To optimise the use of public resources, starting from Monday (January 6), the DH will temporarily implement an over-subscription ballot to suitably increase the number of successful applicants to a level exceeding the actual service quotas and introduce a waiting list mechanism to fill possible vacancies.

"Since the launch of the ORDGP, some members of the public who had been successfully allocated a quota did not turn up for the appointment. Upon initial enquiry, they said that they were unable to attend due to other commitments or had forgotten their appointment, while others said that they were unaware that the scope of the service was limited to emergency dental services," the DH spokesman said.

From next Monday (January 6), elderly people aged 65 or above who have completed the online registration but are not selected by the computer ballot will be placed on a waiting list by computer ballot with priority. The waitlisted persons, upon notification by telephone, will be arranged to attend the clinic of their first choice.

The DH will take the initiative to contact successful applicants on the day when the ballot results are announced to confirm that they have received the SMS and to remind them of the location of the clinic and the consultation time for the following day. If it is known that individual successful applicants will not be able to receive the service the next day, the DH will contact the waitlisted persons by telephone, and they should arrive at the designated clinic at 8.30am on the following day to register for the service.

In addition, members of the public who have been successfully allocated a quota must arrive at the designated dental clinic at 8.30am on the appointment day for registration. After verifying the number of attendances and absentees, staff of the dental clinics will call those waitlisted persons from 9.30am to fill any vacancies and they should arrive at the designated clinics before 11.30am to register for the service.

"Depending on the absence rate at each clinic, the DH will suitably increase the quota of successful applicants and set up a waiting list to fill vacancies without compromising the overall quality of service, which remains the top priority. The DH will continue to monitor the operation of the new system and keep in view the utilisation and attendance rates. If the situation warrants, a mechanism to deter absenteeism and abuse may be introduced as necessary," the spokesman said.

The spokesman emphasised that public dental services are dedicated to those in need of emergency dental treatments only, namely prescriptions for pain relief, extraction of teeth, or treatment of other emergencies (e.g. oral abscesses). Given the limited quotas, members of the public should not abuse the service and waste valuable resources.

To further facilitate the use of the ORDGP, the public will be able to access it through the Hospital Authority's mobile application "HA Go" starting from January 10, in addition to theeHealth mobile applicationor the DH's Dental Public Sessionwebsite.

The DH will continue to deploy additional manpower to assist members of the public in need to register and utilise the ORDGP. Anyone who needs assistance with registration can go to any dental clinic between 8.30am and 11.30am and be assisted by staff in the registration process without the need to use their own cell phones or computers.

In addition, the DH has extensively linked up with the following district networks to assist those in need:

＊ District Health Centres;

＊ District Health Centre Expresses;

＊ Neighbourhood Elderly Centres and the District Elderly Community Centres under the Social Welfare Department;

＊ District Councillors' offices;

＊ Community Care Teams; and

＊ dental clinics run by 15 social welfare institutions or non-governmental organisations.

Members of the public may also visit the DH's website to view briefings and demonstration videos on the system.

For the addresses and service hours of the 11 dental clinics under the DH, please refer to the relevant websites.

Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today

The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee:

The Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) held the Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony at the Applause Pavilion in Ocean Park Hong Kong today (January 4), signifying a new milestone in the Carbon Neutrality Publicity Campaign as members of the public join together to sustain efforts to reduce the carbon footprint.

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, officiated at the ceremony. Other officiating guests included the Chairman of the ECC, MsGrace Kwok; the Vice-Chairman of the ECC, Mr Wong Chi-keung; the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Mr Eddie Cheung; and the Commissioner for Climate Change, Mr Arthur Lee.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Tse said that the Carbon Neutrality Publicity Campaign launched by the ECC in 2022 has raised public awareness of carbon reduction. The Carbon Reduction Action rolled out in November last year aims to encourage the public to turn their awareness of carbon reduction into action by changing their daily habits to practise low-carbon living. In addition to active participation from citizens, the Campaign has received strong support from nearly 150 strategic and collaborating partners from public and business organisations, non-profit organisations, school sponsoring bodies, etc. Some organisations have further committed to taking on innovative and sustainable carbon reduction measures in their operations, thus contributing positively to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 for Hong Kong. Looking ahead, Mr Tse said he hoped that members of the public would persevere and continue to integrate carbon reduction actions in their daily lives.

Ms Kwok mentioned in her welcoming remarks that, in line with the carbon reduction strategies of the Government's Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050, the ECC has encouraged the public through various channels to support waste reduction at source, energy saving and green transport. In the future, the ECC will continue to encourage the public to reduce carbon emissions and establish a culture of green and low-carbon living. She called on members of the public to work together and inspire their friends and families to change their habits and reduce carbon emissions together to create a greener and more sustainable living environment for future generations.

Mr Tse commended 17 key strategic partners of the Carbon Reduction Action at the ceremony for their planned adoption of innovative and sustainable carbon reduction measures in their operations, including energy-saving innovations, smart food-waste processing systems, green transport and promotion of carbon reduction education, which will contribute actively to achieving the Government's carbon reduction targets set in the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050.

The ceremony was attended by about 300 individuals, including representatives from various corporate partners, student members of the Ocean Park Conservation Alliance – Seahorse Rangers and Student Environmental Protection Ambassadors of the ECC.

Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases