FAQ

Announced in the 2026-27 Budget, the Government initiative Co-care Network marks a shift in the primary healthcare service model, transitioning from single-disease or specific-group-based programmes to a whole-person health approach. It introduces evidence-based, life-course-spanning preventive measures alongside a structured framework for regular screening and management of high-risk diseases. Under the Co-care Network, services will no longer be driven by individual disease programmes but determined by citizens' personal health conditions and risks, realising the "people-oriented" primary healthcare principle.

Specifically, the Co-care Network facilitates the transition of current services into a streamlined model where cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management (formerly known as "Chronic Disease Co-care Scheme"), as well as chronic hepatitis B screening and management (formerly known as "Hepatitis B Co-care Scheme"), are integrated into a cohesive care pathway.
The cardiovascular disease risk factors and chronic hepatitis B screening and management under the Co-care Network provides subsidy for the public to conduct screening for and manage targeted chronic diseases in the private healthcare sector via a "Family Doctor for All" and multidisciplinary public-private partnership model coordinated by District Health Centre (DHC)/ District Health Centre Express (DHCE). With the aims to facilitate early detection and timely intervention of such chronic diseases and encourage self-health management by Participants, so as to help them better manage their chronic diseases and prevent complications, as well as reduce the demand for public specialised and hospital services.

Under the Co-care Network, the service scope of cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management include diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The chronic hepatitis B screening and management provide risk-based chronic hepatitis B screening and continuous management and arrange liver cancer screening if clinically indicated, so as to facilitate early detection and timely intervention and lower the risk of complication (such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer).

To cater to the healthcare needs of underprivileged groups, the Government has piloted preventive screening and care services for underprivileged groups in the Family Medicine Clinics (formerly known as General Out-patient Clinics) (FMC) of the Hospital Authority (HA). It includes cardiovascular disease risk factors and chronic hepatitis B screening and management. Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme recipients, Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) recipients aged 75 or above, or holders of valid Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges who are interested in joining the cardiovascular disease risk factors and/ or chronic hepatitis B screening and management under the Co-care Network, may be arranged to receive the service at designated HA FMCs via DHC/ DHCE, with the same service scope as the cardiovascular disease risk factors and/ or chronic hepatitis B screening and management.

For details, please click here to download the service information.
The cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management comprises screening as a One-off preventive activity ("Screening") followed by, where applicable, the Chronic Disease Co-care Scheme ("CDCC Scheme", formerly known as Treatment Phase) based on the diagnosis of Participants. In the Screening, Participants will be provided with screening services including medical consultation and assessment by Family Doctors, investigation services, diagnosis and arrange appropriate disease management and follow up. Based on the diagnosis and clinical condition of Participants, nurse consultation, allied health services and investigation services may also be provided as appropriate.

Participants who joined the chronic hepatitis B screening and management will be provided with subsidised risk assessment and those with positive results will be provided with subsidised serology testing investigation service arranged by Family Doctors. In the CDCC Scheme, Family Doctors will provide medical consultation and medication, as clinically indicated, for eligible Participants. Meanwhile, individuals who are currently under the care of the HA's FMC or the General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership Programme (GOPC PPP), may enter the CDCC Scheme directly upon successful enrolment if he/ she fulfils the clinical criteria as specified by the Government and is invited to enrol in the cardiovascular disease risk factors management under the Co-care Network.
The Government has expanded the cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management under the Co-care Network to cover blood lipid testing for eligible individuals, allowing for a more comprehensive approach to the assessment and proper management of cardiovascular disease risk factors, including the "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol).

Following the expansion of cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management, all eligible individuals can receive blood lipid testing during the Screening. Through blood lipid testing and management, Participants can better effectively prevent or lower the risk of cardiovascular disease with lifestyle modification and drug treatment.
To enrol in the Co-care Network, an individual must:
  1. be a holder of
    1. a valid Hong Kong Identity Card within the meaning of the Registration of Persons Ordinance (Cap. 177), unless he/ she is a holder of the Hong Kong Identity Card by virtue of a previous permission to land or remain in Hong Kong granted to him/ her and such permission has expired or ceased to be valid; or
    2. a valid Certificate of Exemption within the meaning of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap.115);
  2. have enrolled in the Electronic Health System (eHealth) and registered as a DHC/ DHCE member; and
  3. meet specified criteria for eligibility for one or more of the following screening or management:
    1. Cardiovascular disease risk factors screening (such individual being a "Group A1 Eligible Person"): for screening for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, he/she
      1. is aged 45 years or above; and
      2. has no known medical history of diabetes mellitus/ hypertension, and has no related symptom(s);
    2. Chronic hepatitis B screening (such individual being a "Group A2 Eligible Person"): for screening for chronic hepatitis B, he/she
      1. was born in or before 1988, the year of the introduction of universal childhood hepatitis B immunisation programme in Hong Kong; and
      2. has a family member (which may be, without limitation, a parent, sibling or offspring) or sexual partner who has chronic hepatitis B, and has no related symptoms; and
      3. has no known medical history of chronic hepatitis B, nor related symptoms; and
      4. has not received a complete course of hepatitis B vaccination;
    3. Cardiovascular disease risk factors screening by referral from the Construction Industry Council ("CIC") Medical Examination Scheme (such individual being a "Group A3 Eligible Person"): for re-assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors, he/she is a construction worker who is referred by the CIC Medical Examination Scheme;
    4. Management of cardiovascular disease risk factors: for direct entry to receive management of cardiovascular disease risk factors, he/she
      1. is a person who has met the clinical criteria as specified by the Government and is invited to enrol for the cardiovascular disease risk factors management, and satisfies either paragraph A. or B. below (such individual being a "Group B1 Eligible Person"):
        1. currently under care of the HA FMC and has attended consultation in HA FMCs for treatment of Relevant Illnesses for a period of at least 12 months prior to enrolling for the cardiovascular disease risk factors management; or
        2. is a person participating in the GOPC PPP; or
      2. is a person aged 65 or above who is receiving chronic follow-up services at the Elderly Health Centres under the Department of Health ("Group B2 Eligible Person"); or
      3. is a construction worker who is referred by the CIC Medical Examination Scheme ("Group B3 Eligible Person").
Each of a Group A1 Eligible Person, Group A2 Eligible Person and Group A3 Eligible Person shall be known as a Group A Eligible Person ("Group A Eligible Person"). Each of a Group B1 Eligible Person, Group B2 Eligible Person and Group B3 Eligible Person shall be known as a Group B Eligible Person ("Group B Eligible Person").
The eligibility criteria of Participants remains unchanged following the expansion of cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management under the Co-Care Network. For details of the eligibility criteria for Participants, please refer to Q5.
The eligibility criteria of Participants remains unchanged following the expansion of cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management under the Co-care Network. For details of the eligibility criteria for Participants, please refer to Q5.
If an individual would like to participate in the chronic hepatitis B screening and management under the Co-care Network but is not certain about whether they are eligible (e.g. could not confirm if their family members (which may be, without limitation, parents, siblings or offspring) or sexual partners have chronic hepatitis B, or could not confirm if they have ever received a complete course of hepatitis B vaccination), they can visit the DHC/ DHCE for enquiry. DHC/ DHCE staff will arrange relevant services based on the individual situation.
If an individual meets the criteria as specified by the Government in Q5, he/ she can join one or more group(s) of screening and management.
Family Doctors enrolled in the the Co-care Network will provide eligible Participants with existing diabetes mellitus and hypertension screening and blood lipid testing, as well as the chronic hepatitis B screening and management, and take care of and treat different health conditions of Participants.

If Participants who enrolled in the cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management under the Co-care Network fulfill the eligibility criteria of the chronic hepatitis B screening and management, they may undergo the chronic hepatitis B screening and management. DHC/DHCE staff will coordinate relevant services.
If an individual has not been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B and fulfills eligibility criteria of the chronic hepatitis B screening and management under the Co-care Network, even if he/she has undergone hepatitis B blood test and the result was positive, he/she can still participate in the chronic hepatitis B screening and management under the Co-care Network and undergo the hepatitis B screening service.
Group A1 Eligible Person - cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management
Individuals aged 45 or above and with no known medical history of diabetes mellitus/ hypertension can enrol in the Co-care Network at DHC/ DHCE or at the clinics of Family Doctors who have joined the Co-care Network and support participant enrolment.

Group A2 Eligible Person - chronic hepatitis B screening and management
For individual who (a) was born in or before 1988 the year of the introduction of universal childhood hepatitis B immunisation programme in Hong Kong; and (b) has a family member (which may be, without limitation, a parent, sibling or offspring) or sexual partner who has chronic hepatitis B; and (c) has no known medical history of chronic hepatitis B, nor related symptoms; and (d) has not received a complete course of hepatitis B vaccination, they shall enrol the chronic hepatitis B screening and management under the Co-care Network in DHC/DHCE at this stage and conduct HBsAg Rapid Diagnostic Test. The Government will review the service model and operational details, and consider whether to provide more methods for enrolment.

For CSSA Scheme recipients, OALA recipients aged 75 or above, or holders of valid Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges who are Group A1 and A2 Eligible Person and are interested in joining the Co-care Network, they may be arranged to receive the service at designated HA FMCs via DHC/ DHCE, with the same service scope as the Co-care Network .

Group A3 Eligible Person
Construction worker who is referred by the CIC Medical Examination Scheme for screening of cardiovascular disease risk factors shall enrol the Co-care Network in DHC/DHCE at this stage.

Group B Eligible Person
For individuals who (a) have attended consultation at HA's FMC for treatment of relevant illnesses for a period of at least 12 months prior to enrolling and have met the clinical criteria as specified by the Government, or (b) are participating in the GOPC PPP, or (c) are currently receiving chronic disease follow-up services at the Elderly Health Centres under the Department of Health , or (d) is a construction worker who is referred by the CIC Medical Examination Scheme, and have met the clinical criteria as specified by the Government. If they receive an invitation to join the cardiovascular disease risk factors management under the Co-care Network, may refer to Q13 to Q16 for the enrolment steps.
Eligible HA FMC patients will receive invitation letters to join the Co-care Network for cardiovascular disease risk factors management from the Programme Office. Interested individuals should complete and mail the reply slips to HA. HA will transfer the case summaries of interested individuals to their chosen DHCs/ DHCEs who will contact the individuals to arrange a visit to complete the enrolment procedures.

Participants who are Group B Eligible Persons will enter the CDCC Scheme for cardiovascular disease risk factors management directly upon successful enrolment. After receiving their first subsidised medical consultation visits with their paired Family Doctors under the Co-care Network, HA will cancel their subsequent follow-up appointments for relevant illnesses at HA's FMC.

Those who are not joining the Co-care Network will continue to remain under the care of HA's FMC.
Eligible GOPC PPP patients will receive invitation letters to join the Co-care Network for cardiovascular disease risk factors management from the Programme Office. Interested individuals should complete and mail the reply slips to HA. HA will transfer the case summaries of interested individuals to their chosen DHCs/ DHCEs, who will contact the individuals to arrange a visit to complete the enrolment procedures.

Eligible GOPC PPP patients who are interested to enrol in the Co-care Network for cardiovascular disease risk factors management may also do so at the clinic of their Family Doctors directly, provided that they wish to continue receiving care from the same Family Doctor after joining the Co-care Network, and the Family Doctor they wish to pair with has enrolled in the Co-care Network and supports Participant enrolment. This arrangement can take place before the patients receive the invitation letters from the Programme Office.

Upon successful enrolment, the GOPC PPP patients will enter the CDCC Scheme for cardiovascular disease risk factors management directly. After receiving their first subsidised medical consultation visits with their paired Family Doctors, they will be withdrawn from the GOPC PPP.

HA will arrange for suitable individuals who choose not to participate in the Co-care Network to return to HA's FMC in batches, where they can continue their treatment according to the prevailing fees and arrangements.
The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) will progressively integrate the services of Elderly Health Centers under the Department of Health into the District Health Network. With the effect from 5 October 2026, eligible Elderly Health Center patients will receive invitation to DHCs/ DHCEs for membership registration, service coordination and Family Doctor pairing. Eligible Elderly Health Center patients can directly enroll as Participants and enter the CDCC Scheme for cardiovascular disease risk factors management.
Construction workers who are referred by the CIC Medical Examination Scheme and has met the clinical criteria as specified by the Government can visit DHCs/ DHCEs for membership registration, service coordination and Family Doctor pairing. Eligible construction workers can enroll as Participants and directly enter the CDCC Scheme for cardiovascular disease risk factors management.
Participants who are Group B Eligible Persons (For details of the eligibility criteria for Participants, please refer to Q5.) will enter the CDCC Scheme for cardiovascular disease risk factors management directly and will receive the same arrangement on the number of subsidised medical consultation visits per year and the co-payment amounts as the existing service scope under the cardiovascular disease risk factors management under the Co-care Network.
The objective of the Co-care Network is to provide targeted subsidised services through a "Family Doctor for All" and multi-disciplinary public-private partnership model to enable eligible public to receive screening and management of target chronic diseases in the private healthcare sector. Generally, participation in the Co-care Network will not affect the healthcare services that Participants are currently receiving from the HA or DH such as emergency services and other specialist services. If Participants elect to use the public healthcare system for treatment of their diabetes mellitus/ hypertension/ chronic hepatitis B, they are required to immediately notify DHC/ DHCE to arrange withdrawal from the Co-care Network.
With clear documentation of the event, the diagnosis of hypertension made by emergency service doctor does not inhibit the individual from enrolling in the Co-care Network and undergo cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management if the referral to emergency service is made by Family Doctor or DHC/ DHCE healthcare staff during enrolment.
The individual can participate in the Co-care Network and undergo cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management if her blood sugar level returns to non-diabetic range after baby delivery and fulfils other eligibility criteria.
Participants can select a suitable Family Doctor, according to their own choice, by searching the website of the Co-care Network, which provides the list of Family Doctors with their essential information including practice district, service charge under the Co-care Network and participation in other Government subsidised primary healthcare programme e.g. Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme.
If Participants' attending private doctor has already enrolled in the Co-care Network, they may consider to pair with their private doctor directly. If the private doctor has not yet enrolled in the Co-care Network, the Participants can contact the DHC/ DHCE and the DHC/ DHCE will invite that private doctor to join the Co-care Network so that the Participants can be paired with the named doctor. If the private doctor does not enrol into the Co-care Network within 2 weeks, DHC/ DHCE will assist Participants to pair with another Family Doctor according to their choice.
Family Doctors under the Co-care Network are required to be listed in the Primary Care Directory maintained up by the Government. Apart from treatment and caring of health conditions, Family Doctors also provide continuous support throughout different stages of life such as vaccination, cancer screening, chronic disease screening and management, life course preventive care and self-management of disease. As Family Doctors, with good understanding of a patients' health conditions and needs, they can provide the patients with the most suitable care and professional advice in promoting their health. At the same time, Family Doctors under the Co-care Network are required to pursue continuing education and follow treatment guidelines, ensuring service quality. Through the Co-care Network, Participants can receive consultation and related medical services subsidised by the Government; otherwise they are required to pay at their own expense if they select private doctors who are not participating in the Co-care Network.
Pairing may take place at Family Doctor clinics or DHC/ DHCE. Eligible individuals may enrol in the Co-care Network at the Family Doctor clinics which support participant enrolment and directly pair with the Family Doctor visited, provided that the individual Participants have not been previously paired with any Family Doctor (applicable for Group A1 Eligible Persons and Group B Eligible Persons who are participating in the GOPC PPP only). Participants may also visit their registered DHC/ DHCE to carry out the pairing process or apply for a change of their paired Family Doctor. DHC/ DHCE staff will provide a list of eligible doctors for Participants to select as their Family Doctor, according to their own choice. DHC/ DHCE staff will not recommend or assign any Family Doctor to the Participants. After successful pairing, Participants will be arranged to receive cardiovascular disease risk factors and/ or chronic hepatitis B screening and management. For Participants who are Group B Eligible Persons, they will enter into the CDCC Scheme for cardiovascular disease risk factors management directly.
Family Doctors are the main providers of primary healthcare services. Apart from treatment and caring of health conditions, Family Doctors also provide continuous support throughout different stages of life such as vaccination, cancer screening, chronic disease screening and management, life course preventive care and self-management of disease. As Family Doctors, with good understanding of a patient's health conditions and needs, they can provide the patients with the most suitable care and professional advice in promoting their health. Therefore, individuals are recommended to arrange to have a Family Doctor for themselves irrespective of whether they are participating in the Co-care Network.
Participants may only pair up with one Family Doctor at any one time.
Participants are encouraged to maintain a long term relationship with their paired Family Doctor. In the Screening, the Participants cannot change their paired Family Doctor within 270 days from the first attendance date of the subsidised medical consultation visit. However, if they do want to change their paired Family Doctor in the CDCC Scheme, they may submit the request to DHC/ DHCE for arrangement. The request will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Participants who have made an appointment for consultation should bring along their valid Hong Kong Identity Cards or Certificates of Exemption (the meaning of which is the same as that in the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115)) and appointment slips when they visit their Family Doctor's clinics to facilitate identity verification and registration by the clinic staff. Participants are also encouraged to bring along self-monitoring blood pressure/ glucose records and past medical history and medication records for reference by Family Doctors.
Participants may change the appointment themselves by contacting the Family Doctor's clinics/ investigation services providers directly or contact DHC/ DHCE for assistance.
All Participants and Family Doctors are required to participate in the eHealth so as to enable sharing of clinical information between the private and the public sectors. For details, please visit DHC/ DHCE, the eHealth website at https://www.ehealth.gov.hk or contact the eHealth hotline for general public at 3467 6300 for assistance.
In general, the Co-care Network will send the following four types of SMS to the Participants:
  • Type 1: to confirm that the Participants have successfully enrolled in the Co-care Network.
  • Type 2: after each subsidised medical consultation visit undertaken by the Participants
  • Type 3: after each co-payment is made by the Participants.
  • Type 4: on the day when Participants who are eligible for Incentive Mechanism enter their second "Participant Programme Year".
The Co-care Network will not make any request for personal data of Participants via the SMS sent. If Participants have any enquiries about SMS received, please call our hotline at 2157 0500.
Participants are required to arrange withdrawal at the DHC/ DHCE. However, individuals are recommended to pay attention to their own health conditions and consult healthcare professionals for appropriate treatment according to their needs.
Participants may contact the Co-care Network hotline at 2157 0500 or visit their local DHC/ DHCE to make enquiries with responsible staff. The Co-care Network hotline operates from 9:00am to 9:00pm Monday to Saturday. If the line is busy or if the call is made outside of operating hours, Participants may leave a voicemail and we will respond to the inquiry as soon as possible during our office hours.
Participants who enrolled the chronic hepatitis B screening and management under the Co-care Network must conduct the HBsAg Rapid Diagnostic Test at DHC/DHCE. If the result was positive, DHC/ DHCE will assist in making an appointment to conduct further examination and arrange investigation at Family Doctor's clinic. If the result is negative, healthcare professionals at the DHC/ DHCE will provide Participants with health counselling and education related to chronic hepatitis B. Participants may also continue to receive other health management services at the DHC/ DHCE.
If the HBsAg Rapid Diagnostic Test result of a Participant is positive, Family Doctors will provide subsidised medical consultation visit(s) and arrange further investigation to confirm if he/ she is infected by hepatitis B virus. If the first blood serology test result of Participant is positive, he/ she will be scheduled for a second blood test after six months to confirm whether he/ she had been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B.

During the screening, Family Doctors and DHC/DHCE staff will provide health counselling and education concerning hepatitis B. According to the Participant's investigation results and clinical condition, Family Doctors will make timely diagnosis of whether he/ she has chronic hepatitis B and provide appropriate chronic hepatitis B treatment and management.
Based on the screening results and the clinical conditions of the Participants, Family Doctors will arrange appropriate follow-up treatment for Participants in accordance with the established guidelines. The DHC/ DHCE will also co-ordinate the services with a view to assist Participants to maintain their health and reduce risk of related complications in the long term.
Hepatitis B vaccination is not included in the service scope of chronic hepatitis B screening service at this phase. We suggest Participant to enquire DHC/ DHCE or his/ her paired Family Doctor on follow-up arrangement and decide to whether receive vaccination or not. The fees incurred for Participants who choose to receive vaccination will be at their own expense. Participants can still receive healthcare management service at DHC/DHCE after undergoing chronic hepatitis B Screening.
Group A Eligible Persons are required to go through Screening before being admitted to the CDCC Scheme, if clinically indicated.

Group B Eligible Persons who are individuals who have received treatment for relevant illnesses at the HA's FMC for at least 12 months, as well as those currently participating in the GOPC PPP, or currently receiving chronic disease follow-up services at the Elderly Health Centers under the Department of Health (with effect from 5 October 2026), or is a construction worker who is referred by the CIC Medical Examination Scheme, may enter the CDCC Scheme for cardiovascular disease risk factors management directly if they are invited and successfully enrol in the Co-care Network.
If Participants were not diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and/ or hypertension in previous screening(s) conducted prior to the expansion of the cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management under the Co-Care Network to include blood lipid testing, and is currently being followed up by DHC/ DHCE, the Participants shall be arranged to undergo blood lipid testing together with rescreening of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The paired Family Doctors of Participants may also arrange for them to undergo blood lipid testing as clinically indicated.

If Participants have been diagnosed with prediabetes/ diabetes mellitus and/ or hypertension, and entered the CDCC Scheme, the paired Family Doctors of Participants would refer them for blood lipid testing and any other applicable investigation as part of the laboratory tests conducted annually or more frequently as clinically indicated.
The number of subsidised medical consultation visits to which Participants are entitled is subject to their diagnosis.

Relevant Illness(es) Maximum Allotted Subsidised Visits*
Hypertension Up to six subsidised visits per Participant within each "Participant Programme Year" (PPY)
Diabetes mellitus Up to six subsidised visits per Participant within each PPY
Specific Blood Sugar Level of Prediabetes Up to four subsidised visits per Participant within each PPY
Specified Condition of Dyslipidemia Up to four subsidised visits per Participant within the first PPY and two subsidised visits per Participant for each subsequent PPY
Chronic hepatitis B Up to four subsidised visits per Participant within each PPY
* If a Participant is diagnosed with more than one Relevant Illnesses, the maximum aggregate number of subsidised visits allotted for the Participant within each PPY will be determined by the Relevant Illness with the highest number of subsidised visits.
If a Participant is diagnosed with multiple chronic diseases under the scope, his/ her maximum number of subsidised medical consultation visits will be determined by the diagnosis with the highest number of subsidised medical consultation visits.
If a Participant receives the treatment for more than one chronic disease(s) during the same consultation which will be counted as one subsidised medical consultation visit quota.
A "Participant Programme Year" is each 12-month period in which a Participant is counted from the date on which the Participant is admitted into a management programme of the CDCC Scheme based on his/ her diagnosis, and recounted on the same date each year (e.g. if a Participant enters the CDCC Scheme on 1 November 2023, the next "Participant Programme Year" will be counted from 1 November 2024).
Where a Participant's clinical condition changes during the CDCC Scheme, the Family Doctor will make a new diagnosis. If a Participant's diagnosis is changed during a "Participant Programme Year", the start date for his/ her current "Participant Programme Year" will be reset from the date on which the new diagnosis is made, the subsidised medical consultation visit quotas of the Participant is entitled to each "Participant Programme Year" and all subsequent incentive targets will also be reset and re-calculated according to the updated diagnosis.

For a Participant already admitted into the CDCC Scheme, a new diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B shall not result in a reset of the 12 month period of the PPY starting from the date the Participant is assigned the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B, unless such diagnosis entitles the Participant to a higher maximum number of subsidised visits than his/her current entitlement.
As individuals with chronic diseases (such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension) require timely and continuous treatment, Participants can attend regular follow-up medical consultations and receive treatment from their Family Doctor.

Equipped with a good understanding of the Participants' health conditions and needs, the Family Doctors will formulate appropriate management plans (including arrangement of next medical consultation date) in accordance with the relevant guidelines having regard to the Participants' clinical conditions and treatment progress, so as to prevent complications, encourage self-management of chronic disease and promotion of their health.
Participants can receive diagnosis and treatment for both chronic diseases and general episodic diseases at the same subsidised medical consultation visit, and receive medications under the "Specified Drugs" list covering antiviral drugs for the management of chronic hepatitis B and/ or up to 3 days of medications for episodic illnesses with no extra charge. If the medical service and medications provided are not within the scope of the cardiovascular disease risk factors or chronic hepatitis B screening and management, Participants should discuss with their Family Doctor and pay for such additional service(s) out-of-pocket according to the costs charged by individual Family Doctors.
The subsidised medical consultation visits in the CDCC Scheme enable Participants to receive treatment for their chronic illnesses. If a Participant also has an episodic illness simultaneously, Family Doctor will provide the treatment for both chronic illnesses and the episodic illness based on the principle of holistic care during the same subsidised medical consultation visit.
Participants can only use a maximum of one subsidised medical consultation visit quota per day. For multiple medical consultation visits on the same day, Participants are required to pay for any additional expenses after the first subsidised medical consultation visit on the same day.
To support and empower Family Doctors in long-term management of Participants under the Co-care Network , the Government has developed a bi-directional referral mechanism with the HA involving all HA Clusters under the cardiovascular disease risk factors and chronic hepatitis B screening and management. Based on the pre-defined criteria, if a Participant is assessed by a Family Doctor as having clinical needs (such as undesirable disease control or complications), the Family Doctor can arrange for the Participant to receive a one-off specialist consultation at a designated Medicine Specialist Out-patient Clinic of the HA according to the guidelines. The Participants can obtain clinical advice on a care plan, which he/ she can then continue to follow up with the Family Doctor. This special arrangement is not regarded as a specialist out-patient referral nor follow-up consultation, and each attendance is charged at a standardised fee of $250. The HA in general would not arrange follow-up appointments for Participants. In the event that drug prescription is required for Participants, a fee of $20 will be charged for each drug item prescribed [4 weeks as chargeable unit (except for self-financed drugs)]. Medical fee waiver is not applicable to this arrangement, and same fees apply to Participants who are HA staff or civil service eligible persons.

Meanwhile, based on the clinical condition of Participants, Family Doctors can also refer patients to receive healthcare services at specialist out-patient clinics under HA following prevailing mechanism.
Having regard to clinical need and subject to mutual agreement between the Family Doctor and Participant, services outside the scope of the cardiovascular disease risk factors and chronic hepatitis B screening and management may be provided. Family Doctors should explain to Participants that such medical services and medications fall outside the scope of the cardiovascular disease risk factors and chronic hepatitis B screening and management, inform Participants of any fees arising from such items and obtain agreement and consent from Participants to receive and pay for those services and/ or medications. For services rendered within the scope of the cardiovascular disease risk factors and chronic hepatitis B screening and management, Participants are only required to pay the co-payment fee.
The addresses of the designated investigation services providers and the Participants' co-payment fee are displayed on the website of the Co-care Network for public information.

Participants can receive specified investigation services at:
  1. Any service locations of the investigation services providers
    Participants may choose from a list of service locations of investigation services providers which are designated by the Government to receive relevant investigation services
  2. DHC/ DHCEs
    Participants can also receive blood taking service and specimen collection services at corresponding DHC/ DHCEs.
  3. Family Doctor's clinic
    Some Family Doctors may opt to provide blood taking and specimen collection services to Participants.
    Participants need to pay the following fees at their Family Doctor's clinic:
    1. The corresponding investigation services co-payment fees; and
    2. Value-added service fee charged by the Family Doctor, subject to mutual agreement
Participants can receive specified laboratory and other investigation services at:
  1. Any of the service locations provided by the designated investigation services providers
  2. DHC/ DHCEs (blood taking and specimen collection services)
  3. Family Doctor's clinic
    Some Family Doctors may opt to provide blood taking and specimen collection services to Participants.
The service points and service hours of designated investigation services provider can be found via the QR Code on the laboratory request note issued by the Family Doctors or on the website of the Co-care Network.
Subject to the mutual arrangement between Participants and Family Doctors, Participants may pay out-of-pocket to choose to receive investigation services from service providers other than the Government designated services providers. Participants will have to pay the full costs of investigation services incurred without Government subsidy.
Participants are required to make their own appointments and visit designated investigation services providers to receive specified investigation services using the referral letter issued by the Family Doctors. The Family Doctors will receive the results of the investigations to explain the diagnosis to the Participants and provide appropriate follow-up and treatment.
If Participant chooses to attend:
  1. Any of the service locations provided by the designated investigation services providers to receive investigation services
    Participants are required to pay the corresponding co-payment directly to the investigation services providers for the relevant investigation items as specified in the Family Doctor's laboratory request note.
  2. DHC/ DHCEs to receive blood taking and specimen collection services
    Participants are required to pay the corresponding co-payment to the DHC/ DHCEs for the relevant investigation items as specified in the Family Doctor's laboratory request note.
  3. Family Doctor's clinic to receive blood taking and specimen collection services
    Participants are required to pay the:
    1. The corresponding investigation services co-payment fees; and
    2. Value-added service fee charged by the Family Doctor.
Participants will receive confirmation SMS about the relevant fees charged.
The Family Doctors may ask the Participants to repeat the test(s) under investigation services if they consider that the investigation results are not satisfactory or have not been completed. In such cases, no additional cost will be incurred by the Participants.
Subject to Participants' clinical needs and the mutual agreement with Family Doctors, Participants may receive investigation services for items outside the investigation list of the cardiovascular disease risk factors and/ or chronic hepatitis B screening and management under the Co-care Network. The fees incurred for Participants who choose to receive investigation services outside the scope of the investigation list will be at their own expense.
Participants can use the Elderly Health Care Voucher to pay the co-payment fee for the value-added service fees applicable to the blood-taking and specimen collection services which are subject to mutual agreement. All charges will be reflected in the SMS confirmation sent to Participants.
Subsidised ECG services must be performed at the service sites of the designated investigation services providers. There will be no Government subsidy provided to Participants who choose to perform ECGs in Family Doctor's clinics.
After Family Doctor receives the investigation report(s), he/ she will arrange a face-to-face consultation or a phone consultation with Participant for explanation of the investigation result(s) and the diagnosis as well as selection of an appropriate management plan. On the other hand, Participants can review the investigation report(s) by themselves via the eHealth App "Investigation". Generally, the investigation report(s) will be viewable in eHealth App in a few weeks after conducting the investigation(s).
If necessary, Participants may request to receive a copy of the investigation report and pay at their own expense any costs charged by individual Family Doctors.
The Family Doctors will prescribe the appropriate duration of chronic disease medications according to the Participant's clinical condition and subject to the Participant's consent.

When Family Doctors prescribe any chronic diseases medications listed under the basic tier of the "Specified Drugs" list covering antiviral drugs for the management of chronic hepatitis B, no extra charge shall be incurred to Participants.

When clinically indicated, Family Doctors may also prescribe and charge for any chronic disease medications outside the aforementioned situations, or any treatment involving the use of medications at the clinic (e.g. injection for acute pain relief). The charging for these circumstances shall be made under mutual agreement with Participants.
The Family Doctors will prescribe the appropriate duration of medications for episodic illnesses according to the Participant's clinical condition and subject to the Participant's consent.

When Family Doctors prescribe any episodic illnesses medication listed under the basic tier of the "Specified Drugs" list covering antiviral drugs for the management of chronic hepatitis B, or up to 3 days of episodic illnesses medications outside the "Specified Drugs" list, no extra charge shall be incurred to Participants.

When clinically indicated, Family Doctors may also prescribe and charge for any episodic illnesses medications prescribed outside the aforementioned situations, or any treatment involving the use of medications at the clinic (e.g. injection for acute pain relief). The charging for these circumstances shall be made under mutual agreement with Participants.

Participants are advised to consult their Family Doctors if they have any special needs.
For cardiovascular disease risk factors screening, Family Doctors will charge a one-off co-payment of $120 or less at the first subsidised medical consultation visit at the Screening, which covers all medical consultation visit(s), investigation services, diagnosis and assignment of a management plan. Participants are only required to pay this co-payment for the Screening, and the remaining costs are subsidised by the Government.

For chronic hepatitis B screening, Family Doctors will charge a one-off co-payment of $180 or less at the first subsidised medical consultation visit at the Screening, which covers all subsidised medical consultation visit(s), investigation services, diagnosis and assessment conclusion. Participants are only required to pay this co-payment for the Screening, and the remaining costs are subsidised by the Government.
If DHC/ DHCE has contacted Participant for blood lipid testing at his/ her paired Family Doctor, the Participant would need to pay a one-off co-payment fee of $120 or less to the Family Doctor, which would include medical consultation visit(s) and related investigation services. The co-payment amount to be paid by Participants for the Screening as a One-off preventive activity remains the same following the expansion of the cardiovascular disease risk factors screening and management under the Co-care Network to include blood lipid testing.

If a Participant entered the CDCC Scheme for cardiovascular disease risk factors management, the Participant only has to pay the co-payment fee to the laboratory services provider for each investigation item requested and the Government will provide a partial subsidy to laboratory services provider.
During the CDCC Scheme, Participants will receive a specified quota of subsidised medical consultation visit(s) for each "Participant Programme Year" based on the results of his/ her screening and the admitted management programme. Each time Participants utilise a subsidised medical consultation visit quota, they only need to pay the co-payment determined by their Family Doctor for the consultation at that service location, the provision of medications from "Specified Drug List" covering antiviral drugs for the management of chronic hepatitis B, and/ or provision of medications for episodic illnesses (e.g. colds, flu and coughs) for a maximum of three days. The remaining costs of the above services are subsidised by the Government.
The co-payment fees for laboratory and other investigation services conducted either at the designated investigation services providers, DHC/ DHCEs or Family Doctors' clinics for specified investigation services under the cardiovascular disease risk factors and/ or chronic hepatitis B screening and management are as follows:
  1. Screening as a One-off preventive activity: All the specified investigation services are subsidised by the Government and Participants are not required to pay any fees.
  2. CDCC Scheme: The Government will provide partial subsidy for each of the item of laboratory and/ or other investigation services, and Participants are only required to pay the specified co-payment for each of the relevant laboratory and/ or other investigation service item.
The fees incurred for Participants who choose to receive investigation services from investigation services providers outside the scope of the cardiovascular disease risk factors and/ or chronic hepatitis B screening and management will be at their own expense and will not be subsidised by the Government.

Subsidised ECG services must be performed at the service site of the designated investigation services providers. There will be no subsidy provided to Participants who choose to perform ECG in Family Doctor clinics.
Family Doctors will prescribe medications from the list of "Specified Drugs" for treating chronic diseases (e.g. anti-diabetic drugs, anti-hypertensive drugs, supplementary drugs to anti-hypertensive, lipid-regulating drugs and antiviral drugs for the management of chronic hepatitis B) and/ or medications for episodic illnesses (e.g. colds, flu, or coughs) for up to three days based on Participants' screening result and clinical conditions. The fee for medication is included in the co-payment for the subsidised medical consultation visit of the CDCC Scheme, even if multiple medication are prescribed, Participants are not required to pay any additional fee. The Government will, from time to time, review the medications included under the list of "Specified Drugs" to better meet the clinical needs of Participants.

Apart from the abovementioned prescription of medication, Family Doctors may also prescribe other medications as clinically necessary with the consent of Participants, and charge the relevant additional costs for which no Government subsidies will be provided.
Based on Participant's clinical conditions, the paired Family Doctor can, with Participant's consent, refer him/ her to receive Dedicated Nurse Clinic and Allied Health Services under District Health Network, with corresponding arrangements made through DHC/ DHCE. Participants will receive partial subsidy from the Government and are required to pay a designated co-payment fee for the service each time.

In accordance with the clinical needs for chronic hepatitis B, Dedicated Nurse Clinics and Allied Health Services under District Health Network will not be subsidised under the chronic hepatitis B management.
Participants may use vouchers from the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme towards payment of co-payment charged by Family Doctors or other service providers that are also enrolled in the Government's Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme. If the Participants are CSSA Scheme recipients, OALA recipients aged 75 or above, or holders of valid Certificate for Waiver of Medical Charges, they may be arranged to receive the service at designated HA FMCs via DHC / DHCE, with the same service scope as cardiovascular disease risk factors and chronic hepatitis B screening and management under the Co-care Network. The fees for using the preventive care services for eligible persons will be fully or partially waived according to their eligibility within one year from the date of receiving their first service. Participants' eligibility will be verified again after the one-year service period. For details, please click here to download the service information.
Generally speaking, a quota of 4 to 6 subsidised medical consultation visits is sufficient. If Participants have used up all of their quotas for subsidised medical consultation visits within 12 months, they may seek medical consultation from the same Family Doctor or other healthcare providers at their own expense, but will not receive Government subsidy. Participants are encouraged to receive medical services from the same Family Doctor in order to establish a long-term doctor-patient relationship.

Prior to exhausting the subsidised medical consultation visit quotas, Participants are recommended to maintain close communication with his/ her Family Doctors to ensure proper management and monitoring of his/ her chronic illnesses. In addition, Participants may take note of his/ her remaining quota of subsidised medical consultation visits so that they can receive appropriate medical support when necessary.
Participants can check his/ her relevant records at the Family Doctors, DHC/ DHCE or nurse clinic/ allied health service providers, as well as via the eHealth App.
If a Participant undergoes both cardiovascular disease risk factors and chronic hepatitis B screening, he/ she have to pay the co-payment fee for cardiovascular disease risk factors screening (up to $120) and chronic hepatitis B screening (up to $180) respectively.

Please refer to the website of the Co-care Network for details on co-payment amount for individual screening:https://www.primaryhealthcare.gov.hk/cdcc/en/gp/join_cdcc_co_payment.html
The objective of the incentive mechanism is to empower Participants to manage their own health. The incentive mechanism is applicable for Participants with diabetes mellitus and/ or hypertension, and receive cardiovascular disease risk factors management, and calculation will automatically start from the Participant's second "Participant Programme Year" onwards.
Each eligible Participant will have 3 or 4 applicable targets according to his/ her diagnosis and respective management programme.

Starting from his/ her second "Participant Programme Year" (PPY) onwards, if he/ she has achieved 2 or 3 of the targets (depending on his/ her diagnosis and respective management programme) by the end of that PPY, he/ she can enjoy a reduction of medical consultation co-payment fee up to the Government's recommended co-payment amount (currently $150) for the first subsidised medical consultation visit in the following PPY.

 
Category Parameters for achieving targets Applicable Disease Groups
 Hypertension and Pre-Diabetes   Hypertension   Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus   Diabetes Mellitus 
Patient Empowerment 1) Self-report – blood pressure
Conduct home blood pressure monitoring and report the results in the eHealth App at least once per month 		✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Compliance with the CDCC Scheme 2) Consultation interval (for Subsidised Visits only) during the Chronic Disease Co-care Scheme
Out of a maximum of 6 Subsidised Visits within each 12-month Participant Programme Year, attend at least 4 Subsidised Visits with attendance at least once per quarter within the 12-month Participant Programme Year 		✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
3) Diabetes Mellitus / Hypertension management: Patient Empowerment Programme
Complete the Patient Empowerment Programme including post-assessment as arranged by District Health Centre within the 12-month Participant Programme Year 		✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
4) Diabetes Mellitus management: retinal photography
Complete retinal photography examination as arranged by District Health Centre within the 12-month Participant Programme Year 		    ✓ ✓
Condition to be entitled to Incentive Must achieve 2 of 3 target parameters Must achieve 3 of 4 target parameters

(For definition of eligible Participants, please refer to Q74.)
(For details on how to achieve each target, please refer to Q76-Q80.)
Depending on his/ her diagnosis and respective management programme, each Participant will have 3 or 4 applicable targets. The targets may include the followings:
  • Conduct home blood pressure monitoring and report the results in the eHealth App at least once per month;
  • Attend at least 4 subsidised medical consultation visits with attendance at least once per quarter, out of a maximum of 6 subsidised medical consultation visits within each 12-month "Participant Programme Year" (PPY) ;
  • Complete the Patient Empowerment Programme including post-assessment as arranged by DHC/ DHCE within the 12-month PPY; and
  • Complete retinal photography examination as arranged by DHC/ DHCE within the 12-month PPY.
(For details of the parameters for achieving targets, please refer to Q75.)
(For details on how to achieve each target, please refer to Q76-Q80.)
To establish the habit of regular self-monitoring of blood pressure, Participants are advised to measure their blood pressure and blood pressure results in the eHealth App as least once per calendar month.

To achieve this target, the eligible Participant is required to measure his/ her blood pressure and upload the results in the eHealth App at least once per calendar month within that "Participant Programme Year" (PPY).

For example, if the Participant's second PPY is from 22 November 2024 to 21 November 2025, the first calendar month for measuring and uploading blood pressure result will be 1-30 November 2024, and the last calendar month will be 1-31 October 2025.

Participants are encouraged to make use of the built-in reminder function in the eHealth App (settings in "Health Management" > "Blood Pressure Buddy" > "Reminder"), to remind themselves to upload blood pressure measurement results in eHealth App.

(For details of the parameters for achieving targets, please refer to Q75.)
To establish the habit of regular self-monitoring of blood pressure, only blood pressure that is measured and uploaded to eHealth App within the same calendar month will be counted in incentive calculation, all late entries of blood pressure records (i.e. not uploaded within the same calendar month of blood pressure measurement) will not be counted.

If Participant cannot achieve this target, he/ she can pursue the other targets that are applicable to his/ her diagnosis and respective management programme in order to be entitled to incentive.

(For details of the parameters for achieving targets, please refer to Q75.)
Participants are encouraged to consult their paired Family Doctors regularly for managing their health conditions, and to plan ahead how to effectively use their subsidised medical consultation visits quota across the "Participant Programme Year" (PPY) in order to meet the parameter.

Each Participant diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and/ or hypertension is entitled to a maximum of 6 subsidised medical consultation visits in each PPY.

To meet this parameter, Participants need to attend at least 4 subsidised medical consultation visits with attendance at least once per quarter* (i.e. at least once in every three months) within the PPY. Only subsidised medical consultation visits will be counted towards incentive calculation.

*Note: "Quarter" refers to each 3-month period in a PPY: the day when a Participant receives a new diagnosis and change to the respective management programme from his/ her Family Doctor, until at the end of the day before corresponding date in the PPY quarter end (i.e. end of 3rd month) (where there is no corresponding date in the 3rd month, at the end of the day before last day of the 3rd month).

For example: When a Participant starts his/ her second PPY on 31 January 2025, his/ her 1st quarter will be from 31 January 2025 to 29 April 2025. If necessary, his/ her second PPY will be reset on 1 May 2025, the date on which he/ she being assigned a respective management programme by Family Doctor based on his/ her latest diagnosis, his/ her 1st quarter will also be reset from 1 May 2025 to 31 July 2025.

(For details of the parameters for achieving targets, please refer to Q75.)
To encourage Participants' self-management of their own health condition, DHC/ DHCE will arrange for Participants to complete the Patient Empowerment Progamme. Incentive calculation will be based on the completion date of the Patient Empowerment Programme recorded in the Co-care Network IT Platform in the second or subsequent "Participant Programme Year".

(For details of the parameters for achieving targets, please refer to Q75.)
DHC/ DHCE will arrange retinal photography examination for Participants who are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus to monitor any ocular complication of diabetes mellitus. Incentive calculation will be based on the date of assessment completion by Optometrist recorded in the Co-care Network IT Platform.

(For details of the parameters for achieving targets, please refer to Q75.)
Where a Participant's clinical condition changes during the CDCC Scheme, the Family Doctor may make a new diagnosis and change to the respective management programme. If a Participant's diagnosis and management programme is changed during a "Participant Programme Year" (PPY), the start date for his/ her current PPY will be reset from the date on which the new diagnosis and management programme are adopted, and the subsidised medical consultation visit quotas of the Participant being entitled to each PPY and all subsequent targets will also be reset and re-calculated according to the updated diagnosis.

(For details of the parameters for achieving targets, please refer to Q75.)
Should the newly paired Family Doctor continue to follow up the Participant with the current management programme, the calculation of incentive will not be affected. However, if the newly paired Family Doctor makes a new diagnosis and respective management programme based on the change of the Participant's clinical condition, then the calculation of incentive will be affected. For details, please refer to Q82.
Eligible Participants who have achieved the required number of incentive targets within the "Participant Programme Year" (PPY) enjoy a reduction of co-payment fee up to the Government recommended co-payment amount (currently at $150) for the first subsidised medical consultation visit in the following PPY*. If the co-payment declared by his/ her paired Family Doctor for the subsidised medical consultation is the same or lower than the Government recommended co-payment amount, then no co-payment is required for that subsidised medical consultation visit. If the co-payment declared by his/ her paired Family Doctor is higher than the Government recommended co-payment amount, then co-payment after deducting the Government recommended co-payment amount of $150 is required for that subsidised medical consultation visit.

*Due to the time required for system processing (up to a maximum of 9 calendar days), eligible Participants may use the deduction starting from the 10th calendar day after the start of the following PPY.

(For details of the parameters for achieving targets, please refer to Q75.)
Participants with diabetes mellitus and/ or hypertension and who have entered their second "Participant Programme Year" or beyond can log on to the eHealth App, and go to " Health Programme " > " Chronic Disease Co-Care Scheme (CDCC Scheme)"> "Incentive Mechanism" to view their incentive targets progress.
The Government encourages the public to register to a DHC/ DHCE which is convenient to them to maintain a long term and stable care. Address of the DHC/ DHCE is available on the DHC website.
Healthcare professionals will refer Participants, with his/ her consent, to receive relevant Dedicated Nurse Clinic and Allied Health Services under District Health Network according to his/ her clinical needs and arrangements will be made by the DHC/ DHCE as appropriate.

In accordance with the clinical needs for chronic hepatitis B, Dedicated Nurse Clinics and Allied Health Services under District Health Network will not be subsidised under the chronic hepatitis B management.
If Participants would like to change their chosen service providers of Dedicated Nurse Clinic and Allied Health Services under District Health Network, they may contact their DHC/ DHCE for arrangement. The request will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
If Participants have used up all of their quotas for subsidised visits of Dedicated Nurse Clinic and Allied Health Services under District Health Network within 12 months, they may seek services from the same or other nurse clinic/ allied health service providers at their own expense, but will not receive Government subsidy.

Participants are recommended to maintain close communication with their Family Doctors and DHC/DHCE to ensure proper management and monitoring of their chronic illnesses. In addition, Participants may take note of their remaining quota of subsidised visits so that they can receive appropriate medical support when necessary.
Participants may choose to use nurse clinic/ allied health services other than the Government designated service providers, however Participants have to pay out-of-pocket for the full costs incurred without Government subsidy.
Participants may attend group classes or activities at DHC/ DHCE free of charge.
The Dedicated Nurse Clinics under District Health Network of cardiovascular disease risk factors management are staffed by nurse practitioners who will follow with individual Participants and coordinate his/ her individual health plans and goals based on his/ her screening results, the doctor assessment, clinical conditions as well as physical and mental health needs. The nurses also coordinate the multi-disciplinary services under the cardiovascular disease risk factors management (including doctor consultation, allied health services, etc.) and arrange the Participants to participate in appropriate primary healthcare services (e.g. Patient Empowerment Programme), with the long-term goal of helping the Participants to maintain their health, build up a healthy lifestyle, and reduce the risk of developing related complications.
Participants may contact the staff of their registered DHC/ DHCE concerned for arrangement.
Participants may contact the staff of their registered DHC/ DHCE to request to update their information.