The Health Bureau’s Primary Healthcare Commission announced today that, starting from July 2, occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) participating in government-subsidised primary healthcare programmes must first be enlisted in the Primary Care Directory and join eHealth.
It explained that to allow sufficient time for the professions to complete the enrolment process, a two-month grace period until September 1 will be provided.
The commission encourages OTs and PTs to register as early as possible, so that they can continue to provide relevant government-subsidised services to members of the public.
The Primary Healthcare Blueprint recommended expanding the directory to cover more healthcare professionals and developing sub-directories for allied health professionals, including OTs and PTs, with a view to ensuring their participation in continuing medical education or professional development programmes relevant to their disciplines.
In addition, the blueprint recommended requiring all primary healthcare service providers to use eHealth to promote continuity of healthcare services and cross-sector collaboration.
Those OTs and PTs currently participating in relevant government-subsidised programmes but who are yet to be enlisted in the directory and join eHealth by the end of the grace period will no longer be able to offer those government-subsidised primary healthcare services to their patients.
The public may enquire with their OTs or PTs or visit the directory’s website to confirm whether they are enlisted, to ensure that they can continue receiving the relevant subsidised services from the same OT or PT after the grace period.
The directory enables people to look for service providers’ information, such as their practice addresses, telephone numbers, consultation hours, service provisions as well as their participation in various government-subsidised programmes.
