The GOPC PPP is launched by the Government, through the Hospital Authority (HA), aiming to: 
(a) provide choice to patients for receiving primary care service from the private sector in their community; 
(b) enhance patient access to primary care service; 
(c) promote the family doctor concept; 
(d) help HA manage demand for general/specialist outpatient service; and 
(e) foster the development of the territory-wide Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS).

The Programme has been launched since mid-2014 in Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin and Tuen Mun initially,  and has now been rolled out to all 18 districts .

All private doctors fulfilling the following requirements as set out in the Programme T&Cs are eligible to participate in the Programme as a participating service provider (PSP).  They must:

• be registered medical practitioners with the Medical Council of Hong Kong, under Section 14 or 14A;
• be either a registered healthcare provider (HCP) for the Hong Kong Government’s (HKG) Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHRSS) or authorized by a HCP to access and use the eHRSS.

Interested SPs can apply by their own volition or through HA’s invitation. They need to complete and return the relevant forms with appropriate supporting documents to the HA Programme Office for enrolment.  For enquiries, please contact the Programme Office and Cluster PPP Office during office hours for further assistance.

The target group comprises patients who are currently taken care of by HA outpatient clinics. They must be regarded as clinically stable.

They must have started to receive care for the Relevant Illnesses at HA outpatient clinics for at least 12 months by the time they start receiving service under this Programme.

Identified eligible patients will be invited to enrol, on a voluntary basis, and select a PSP from the list of Private Doctors participating in the Programme as their family doctors.  Those who are not willing to enrol will continue to be taken care of at the HA’s GOPCs/SOPCs.

Chronic diseases such as HT and DM can lead to major health problems and complications for individual patients, creating a major burden to the overall healthcare system.  Chronic diseases form a significant health burden for Hong Kong’s public health services, with about 43% of the patients attending the HA’s GOPCs suffering from either HT or DM.  It is therefore planned that the Programme will target chronic disease patients, starting with HT and DM initially.

Pre-defined clinical criteria will be set for each target group of patients. The conditions of the patient will be reviewed based on the clinical records in the HA Clinical Management Systems.  Patients who fulfilled the pre-defined clinical criteria is considered clinically stable to participate in the Programme.

The HA has compiled the list of PSPs, with essential information of the PSPs shown. The list will be sent out as part of the invitation to our GOPC patients. The list is also available at the Programme’s website (http://www.ha.org.hk/ppp/gopcppp).

During the PSP-Patient matching process, Cluster PPP Office would fax the patient’s clinical information to his/her chosen PSP.  The PSP would have 2 calendar weeks to review and indicate whether to accept this patient.  In case a PSP is on leave during the time or anticipates more time is needed, Cluster PPP Office may extend this period for up to another 1 calendar week if PSP makes this request.  Should this matching be not successful after 2 or 3 weeks (as the case may be), Cluster PPP Office would move on to the patient’s next choice of PSP, if any, and start the matching process again.

Under the Programme, each patient will receive:

• Up to 10 Subsidised Visits in a year, covering both chronic and episodic illnesses;
• Drugs for treating their chronic conditions and episodic illnesses immediately from the PSPs at their clinics; and

• Upon private doctor’s referral, to receive specified laboratory tests at designated private laboratories and X-ray examination at HA for free.

At each visit paid by a participating patient, the PSP clinic shall use “Register Attendance” function built in the Programme’s IT platform to take attendance with either one of the following methods:

1. Smart-ID: Insert patient’s Hong Kong Identity Card into the eHRSS card reader;
2. One-time password: Enter a real-time passcode received by patient into IT platform; or
3. Attendance sheet: Print out an attendance sheet from the IT platform and ask both the patient and the PSP to confirm attendance by signing on the attendance sheet. Then, fax the completed attendance sheet to the IT platform for vetting by HA PO.

Only those consultation records with a valid patient attendance record are eligible for reimbursement of Service Fees.

For better chronic disease management, PSPs have to attend a patient’s chronic condition, if so required by his / her clinical condition.

Yes.  Beyond the 10 Subsidised Visits, patients have to pay out-of-pocket in full for the fees charged by the PSP.  Those who participate in the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme can pay for non-Programme services/ treatments from their Health Care Voucher accounts.

Yes, participating patients can seek for care on both chronic and episodic illnesses at a given Subsidised Visit, and receive drugs for treating the corresponding illnesses.

Under the Programme, participating patients can receive subsidised medical consultation once a day covering the care on chronic or episodic illnesses or both. Additional consultation(s) in any single day is/are not covered under the scope of this Programme. Yet, individual patient may receive additional service(s) or treatments at their own expenses under mutual agreement with their PSP.

In accordance with individual patient’s clinical indication(s), PSPs will provide those drugs covered under the “List of Specified Drugs” based on the patient’s designated referred specialty and/or up to 3 days of medications for episodic illnesses, with no extra charges to patients.  Other than such conditions, PSPs may charge for further medications prescribed upon mutual agreement with individual patient.

(For details of the “List of Specified Drugs”, PSPs can refer to the GOPC PPP Booklet of Schedules posted on the Programme’s website (http://www.ha.org.hk/ppp/gopcppp).)

For the “List of Specified Drugs”, PSPs may use their own drugs or purchase from designated drug suppliers at Programme prices.  For the latter, the Programme’s IT platform has been enhanced such that PSPs can make orders for Programme Drugs, view the order status, check the remaining balance and review past orders via the IT platform.  Demonstration videos on such functions would be provided upon PSP successfully enrolled into the Programme.

Any PSP can order Programme Drugs via the IT platform after he/she has enrolled his/her first patient under the Programme.  A “Starter Pack” comprising of all drug items under the “List of Specified Drugs” will then be available for purchase by the PSP.  Upon depletion of the Starter Pack, subsequent replenishment of each drug item will be based on the number of patients prescribed with the drug, with an additional buffer quantity of 5 patients’ annual treatment quantity.  It is important for PSPs to input prescription records for each consultation into the IT platform to facilitate the system to deduce the quantity of drugs available for purchase.

Participating patients will receive drugs for treating their chronic conditions and episodic illnesses immediately from the PSPs at their clinics. PSPs may use their own drugs or purchase the drugs under the “List of Specified Drugs” from designated suppliers at Programme prices. Individual patients may also receive drugs outside the Programme’s scope provided by PSPs at their own expenses. 

Subject to a patient’s clinical need and under mutual agreement, the PSPs may prescribe an appropriate duration of drugs to the patient. Participating patients or PSPs can contact the Cluster Help Desk for further information, if needed.

Upon referral by the participating private doctors, participating patients can receive specified laboratory tests at designated private laboratories and X-ray examination at HA for free. Under mutual agreement, individual patients may agree to receive further services provided by the PSPs at their own expense outside the Programme.

If clinically indicated, PSP may refer patients to HA for further treatment.  Patients requiring specialist care can be referred by the PSP to go back to the public system for timely management.  PSP may contact Cluster PPP Office for further information.

PSPs may choose not to accept patients referred to them.  However, they should inform the Cluster PPP Office as soon as possible, so other appropriate arrangements can be made for the concerned patient.

Yes, PSPs can inform the Programme Office of their maximum capacity on patient enrolment under this Programme, and stop receiving new patients when the maximum capacity is reached.

With effect from 1 July 2023, for service provision, PSPs will receive a maximum total of $3,660 per patient per year, covering a maximum of 10 consultations, including the HA GOPC Fee to be paid by the patients to the PSPs directly after each consultation. A participating patient who is eligible for a waiver under the criteria set out in HA’s website relating to the Programme (http://www.ha.org.hk/ppp/gopcppp) may be entitled to partial or full waiver of the HA GOPC Fee when he/she attends the PSP under the Programme. In such cases, the HA will bear the HA GOPC Fee.

Participating patients are only required to pay the HA GOPC Fee for each consultation, as per Gazette (presently $50). A participating patient who is eligible for a waiver under the criteria set out in HA’s website relating to the Programme (http://www.ha.org.hk/ppp/gopcppp) may be entitled to partial or full waiver of the HA GOPC Fee when he/she attends the PSP under the Programme. Under mutual agreement, individual patients may agree to receive further services and treatments provided by the PSPs at their own expense outside the Programme. 

Those who participate in the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme can pay for nonProgramme services from their Health Care Voucher accounts.

PSPs may arrange relieving doctors during their absence.  The relieving doctors shall also enrol in the eHRSS. 

To facilitate continuity of patient care, all participating patients and PSPs are required to participate in the eHRSS, to enable clinical information sharing between the private and the public sectors.

After each consultation, the PSPs are required to enter relevant clinical information in the patients’ records using the eHRSS developed to support the various PPP initiatives under the HA.  Apart from monitoring the progress of individual patients, this also facilitates continuity of patient care, in the event that a patient chooses another PSP on the list or a PSP withdraws from the GOPC PPP. 

PSPs are required to enter patients’ basic clinical information (e.g. blood pressure and pulse, etc.), as the case may be, for chronic visits to the GOPC PPP Interface Module (Module) within 3 calendar days after each consultation.  PSPs are also encouraged to make use of the Module for other clinical documentation such as drugs prescription or other additional services provided.  After 3 calendar days, PSPs are required to submit an unlock consultation request for inputting or editing the consultations.

The PSP may call the Programme hotline 2300 7300 for necessary assistance during hotline operating hours (Monday – Saturday (excluding public holidays): 9am – 9pm).

The PSP should report the loss to the eHR Registration Office at 3467 6230 immediately for arranging replacement. 

The PSP should contact eHR Registration Office at 3467 6230 for assistance.

The PSP should contact his/ her User Administrator to update the mobile phone no. in the User Account Profile.

For service provision, PSPs will receive a maximum total of $3,660 per patient per year, including a maximum of 10 Subsidized Visits at $316 each; as well as drugs at $125 per quarter.  Sample scenarios are illustrated as follows:

Scenario 1

Payment to PSP per year (maximum reimbursement)
Components	$	No. of Consultations	Total Amount
Consultation (Chronic / Episodic/ Both)	$316 / visit	10	$3,160
Drugs	$125 / quarter		$500*
Annual TOTAL			$3,660

* Chronic consultation in every quarter

Scenario 2

Payment to PSP per year
Components	$	No. of Consultations	Total Amount
Consultation (Chronic / Episodic/ Both)	$316 / visit	8	$2,528
Drugs	$125 / quarter		$500*
Annual TOTAL			$3,028

* Chronic consultation in every quarter

PSPs will receive the relevant Service Fees from the HA on a reimbursement basis.  Claims for consultations would be paid directly to the PSP’s designated bank account on monthly basis, whilst the drugs would be paid on a quarterly basis.  PSPs can verify and submit claims via the Module to the HA for processing.  Claims submitted on or before the cut off date (i.e. 10th of every calendar month) will be processed in the same month, while outstanding claims will be saved in the IT system for future submission until reimbursed.

Anti-viral drug, Tamiflu has been included as add-on medication under the Programme for prescription to patients during the subsidised visits made in the Period (if so required by the patient’s clinical condition).  Each patient will be subsidised with up to one course of Tamiflu during the Period, without paying extra charges apart from the patient co-payment.  Other than the conditions stated above, individual patients may receive further services and treatment provided by PSP at their own expenses under mutual agreement.

PSPs shall prescribe and dispense Tamiflu to patients as clinically indicated from their own drug stock and input relevant prescription details in the designated IT platform.  Prescription entitled to drug replenishment will be reflected in the orderable quantity for stock replenishment on the 4th of the following month.  PSPs can place one confirmed order with the supplier via the IT platform every month with the maximum quantity prefilled. The processing of drug orders and arrangement of delivery will take place after the 10th of each month and this will not incur any delivery charges on the PSP.  Order placed after the monthly cut-off will be processed in the next month.

The maximum quantity that PSP can order is up to one course of Tamiflu for each patient during the subsidised visits made in the Period.  Tamiflu prescription falls outside the condition stated above will not be entitled to drug replenishment.

During the the fixed period(s) as specified by HA (the Period), HA will subsidise each patient with two additional subsidised visit quotas (additional quotas).  The additional quotas will apply to the first two visits made by the patients within the Period, where patient can, subject to the T&Cs, attend PSP clinic for consultations on follow up of the designated chronic illnesses and/or on episodic illnesses (acute or chronic) without deducting their 10 annual quotas.  For each consultation visit under the additional quotas, PSP will receive the same service fee as for the annual quotas, which includes the patient co-payment of $50 (subject to applicable waivers for individual patient).

Should there be any updates / changes made, in the future or thereafter, to your information previously provided in the Enrolment Application or that is pertinent to your participation in this Programme, please inform the Programme Office immediately.