Recap of Day 2 Webinar Room 2 – Morning Session

Mr Leong CHEUNG from The Hong Kong Jockey Club made another presentation today on topic “Mental Health Under and Beyond COVID-19”, and he was joined by Dr Martin VANDENDYCK, Technical Lead, Mental Health and Substance Use Division of Programmes for Disease Control, WHO Western Pacific. The COVID-19 has unfortunately heightened the prevalence of mental health in our pandemic-stricken community and the issue definitely warrants more attention.

An active promoter of primary healthcare in Hong Kong, Dr LAM Ching-choi, CEO, Haven of Hope Christian Service, shed many inspiring thoughts in the” Primary Healthcare Services Beyond COVID-19” session. He pointed out low vaccination rate among the elderly in Hong Kong and a rising demand for medical services due to aging population. As a result, our city’s secondary and tertiary healthcare is over-burdened and our system should call for reform. To promote primary care will ensure a sustainable public healthcare system, and opening of District Health Centre to enhance district-based primary healthcare services is moving in the right direction. Dr Lam also suggested using financial incentive to promote primary healthcare, restructuring the authorities to facilitate District Health Centre initiative and strengthening medical-social collaboration as part of the reform initiatives.