You may recall that in the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, the Government formulated the direction of development and strategies for strengthening Hong Kong's primary healthcare system in order to address the many challenges arising from an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and at the same time to further enhance the overall health and quality of life of citizens in Hong Kong. The Primary Healthcare Blueprint reiterated the needs to further strengthen the central role of family doctors in leading and providing primary healthcare to individuals and families in the community. In order to provide the public and healthcare service providers an easily accessible electronic database containing practice information and professional qualification of primary care providers, the Primary Care Directory (PCD) was established since 2011. As one of the key recommendations of the Primary Healthcare Blueprint to strengthen primary healthcare governance, from 6 October 2023 onwards, medical practitioners are required to be enlisted in the PCD in order to participate in Government-subsidised primary healthcare programmes, including Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme (EHVS), Colorectal Cancer Screening Program (CRCSP) and General Outpatient Clinic Public-Private Partnership Programme (GOPC PPP). Those who are yet to be enlisted in the PCD by the end of the two-month grace period (i.e. 6 December 2023 and thereafter) will no longer be able to offer their patients subsidised services under the aforementioned programmes.

The Government has announced that the one-off arrangement of provisional listing in the PCD for medical practitioners was launched on 24 November 2023. To encourage medical practitioners who are committed to provide primary care on meeting the training requirements for maintaining to be listed in the Directory, a one-off arrangement is to be put in place for medical practitioners with insufficient Continuing Medical Education (CME) points for listing on or before 6 December 2023 to be provisionally enlisted in the Directory by undertaking to accumulate sufficient CME points (30 points in the past year) on or before 31 March 2024. Medical practitioners being provisionally listed during the transitional period may continue to participate in the Government-subsidised primary healthcare programmes. Those failing to provide proof of sufficient CME after 31 March 2024 will be delisted from the Directory and would not be able to participate in these programmes. Further details can be obtained via the following link. (please click)

The first post COVID-19 Hong Kong College Family Physicians annual dinner has been held recently at the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine and it was well attended by 200 + College Fellows and Members, including new Conjoint Fellows and Academy Fellows. The evening was full of enjoyable programmes, including singing performances by our very own HKCFP FM² and College Council, myself included. The grand lucky draws and bingo brought anticipations and excitements to the participants, and the evening was complimented by great food and excellent company throughout. I look forward to another great gathering next year! 

The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (HKAM) was established in 1993, and this year marks its 30th Anniversary. I attended the Gala Dinner which has been held recently as part of the celebration of this very important milestone and it was well attended by Fellows of the 15 Colleges under the umbrella of HKAM. We are most grateful that the Chief Executive of HKSAR also joined the Academy’s celebratory Gala Dinner on this auspicious occasion showing his support for the Academy and the medical profession. Happy 30^th birthday to the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine!

I also attended the Hong Kong Jockey Club Innovative Learning Centre for Medicine (HKJC ILCM) 10^th Anniversary on behalf of our College. Established in 2013, the HKJC ILCM has devoted a decade to the pursuit of excellence and innovation in medical education. Dr Donald Li, the President of the HKAM at the time, was instrumental in the formation of the HKJC ILCM. All the best wishes to the HKJC ILCM in the years to come.

As the holiday season is around the corner, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year ahead!