Government expands drug list of Chronic Disease Co-care Pilot Scheme
The Health Bureau announced today (August 1) that the Chronic Disease Co-care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) has expanded the coverage of its basic-tier drug list from 59 items to 114 items starting from today. The expansion provides participating family doctors with more drug choices to cater for the different clinical prescription needs of participants in the Scheme.
The basic-tier drug list of the CDCC Pilot Scheme covers commonly used drugs for treating chronic diseases (such as anti-hypertensive drugs, lipid-regulating and anti-diabetic drugs) and episodic illnesses. Under government subsidy, participants prescribed with drugs on the list will not be required to pay for such medication. The drugs on the list form the foundation of the community drug formulary to be launched in the future. The Government reviews the basic-tier drug list from time to time to better meet the clinical needs of participants. Having reviewed the actual needs of participants, the Government included 55 additional drug items in the basic-tier drug list starting from August 1, covering antidepressants and drugs for the management of chronic hepatitis B, osteoporosis and thyroid disorder. Additionally, more drugs were added to address health problems associated with episodic illnesses, such as drugs for relieving asthma exacerbation, gout, nausea and vertigo. The expanded drug list now covers 114 basic-tier drug items, up from 59 items previously, providing family doctors with greater flexibility to cater for the clinical needs of participants. The latest basic-tier drug list is set out in the Annex.
The Government launched the CDCC Pilot Scheme in November 2023, providing subsidised diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) screening services in the private healthcare sector to Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of DM or HT, with a view to achieving "early prevention, early identification and early treatment". On March 28 this year, the scope of screening under the Scheme was expanded to include blood lipid testing to achieve full coverage of the "three highs". Participants diagnosed with prediabetes, DM, HT or hyperlipidaemia after screenings can proceed to the treatment phase and will be subsidised by the Government to continue their treatment with self-selected family doctors, and subject to their health conditions, be offered prescribed medication and follow-up care at dedicated nurse clinics and allied health services.
The CDCC Pilot Scheme has been well received since its launch, with over 140 000 participants enrolled in the Scheme to date. As of July 23 (provisional figures), about 85 000 participants have completed the screenings, of which around 34 000 (i.e. about 40 per cent) have been diagnosed with prediabetes, DM, HT or hyperlipidaemia and have proceeded to the treatment phase. The Government will continue to promote the CDCC Pilot Scheme to encourage citizens to prevent and manage chronic diseases proactively, thereby enhancing the overall health of the general public.
For more details of the CDCC Pilot Scheme, members of the public may visit its dedicated website (www.primaryhealthcare.gov.hk/cdcc/en/) or call the hotline at 2157 0500. Dedicated staff of the hotline will answer calls from 9am to 9pm from Mondays to Saturdays.
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