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Sammy Heung

Hong Kong’s public dental clinics recorded an overall absence rate of 26.5 per cent on the first two working days of an online booking system’s launch, prompting authorities to consider introducing a waiting list to ensure proper use of services.
The Department of Health said 111 of the 151 people who were allocated a quota spot were treated on Tuesday and Thursday at the six dental clinics using the new registration system.
Three of the clinics using the new booking system were located in Yuen Long, Fanling and Tsuen Wan, which offered appointments on Tuesday, while another three offering services on Thursday were in Tai Po, Kowloon City and Sai Kung.
But 40 people who were given a quota spot did not show up for the appointments, with 23 of them aged 65 or older.
“Some people, who were given a quota spot but did not attend the appointments, said they were absent due to other engagements or that they forgot about the bookings,” the department said.
“Some were also not aware that public dental sessions were only offering emergency dental services.”
Each of the six clinics offered 21 to 42 appointments per open day, with absence rates ranging from 19 to 33.3 per cent.
The department urged residents not to abuse the service, which is intended for those in urgent need, as booking availability is limited.
It also said it would continue to monitor the operation of the new registration system and make improvements.
“Directions being considered include the introduction of a waiting list mechanism. More details will be announced in due course,” it added.


According to the department’s data, 686 people registered for the 88 appointments available on Tuesday, while another 366 tried for 63 spots on Thursday.
In Hong Kong, there are 11 government dental clinics offering free emergency dental procedures such as tooth extractions and pain relief, with the facilities only open once or twice a week to the general public.
Before the launch of the online system, authorities had received complaints for years about residents being forced to queue for hours to secure appointments for the next day.
The new system launched on Monday, allowing residents to secure quota spots for Tuesday. The registration process runs between 6am and 11.30am the day before the appointments, with half of the online places reserved for people aged 65 or older.
Successful registration is then confirmed via SMS.
Elderly residents who fail to secure a spot in the first round are then placed on a waiting list, with the reserved spots being assigned by ballot.
However, Tim Pang Hung-cheong of the Society for Community Organisation said it would be difficult to define what constitutes “unexcused absences”.
“I believe there might be various reasons, such as people not knowing that the SMS message is a confirmation notification, or they might not be familiar with the confirmation steps,” the patients’ rights advocate told a radio show.
But he argued that forgetfulness was not a convincing excuse given the system was for “truly urgent” cases.
Pang said that in cases of unexcused absence, the department might need to consider banning users from registering for a set period.
He also suggested creating a special queue for those who routinely failed to secure appointments so they had a higher chance of successfully registering.
Pang added that he believed the launch of the Community Dental Support Programme, a collaboration effort between authorities and NGOs, later this year would help alleviate some of the demand for public dental services.


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The launch of the online registration system follow years of complaints over residents before forced to physically queue for hours in the hopes of getting a public dental services appointment. Photo: Edmond So

Elderly Hongkongers struggle with dental bookings as online system launches

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

A resident at a Kowloon City clinic scans a QR code to make a booking under the government’s new online system for registering for dental appointments. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong’s homeless to benefit from new dental scheme for the disadvantaged

The city’s homeless can also benefit from a new dental care scheme for the underprivileged. Photo: Edmond So

Groups already working with the homeless can refer individuals with dental issues to the non-governmental clinics participating in the programme, according to the government. Photo: Sun Yeung

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Authorities launched new booking system amid intense demand for public dental services, but 40 people missed appointments on Tuesday, Thursday


Authorities launched new booking system amid intense demand for public dental services, but 40 people missed appointments on Tuesday, Thursday.


Hong Kong society