Elderly Hongkongers struggle with dental bookings as online system launches

Residents at public dental clinic in Kowloon City fail to get help from staff to register for appointments

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Residents queue outside a public dental clinic at Kowloon City Health Centre in Hung Hom. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 6:01pm, 30 Dec 2024Updated: 6:22pm, 30 Dec 2024

Some elderly Hongkongers have expressed frustration over a new online booking system for appointments at public dental clinics on the first day of its launch, despite it replacing an arrangement in which residents had to queue for hours to secure a slot.

The Post spoke to several residents at one of 11 public dental clinics on Monday morning and found they were aware of the new online arrangement but stymied by a lack of staff to help them use the new platform.

A 67-year-old man surnamed Wong said he had spent about HK$80 (US$10) on a taxi and arrived at the clinic in Kowloon City at 4am to secure one of the last remaining physical tokens for an appointment before the Department of Health transitioned to the online system.

“I can’t even remember my own phone number, how will I know how to register online?” Wong said.

He struggled to register online and suggested the government reserve half of the appointments for those who preferred in-person queuing.

The Post observed during a visit to the clinic that no staff members were deployed to the queueing area to guide patients with using the online systems, nor were there signs to tell the public about the changes.