Hong Kong's Health Bureau announced on October 23 that the Community Pharmacy Programme (Community) would launch patient pairing arrangements with designated community pharmacies by the end of October, according to the government notice. The first phase was planned for four districts — Eastern, Yau Tsim Mong, Sha Tin and Yuen Long — with five pharmacies selected in each, for 20 in total. Under the plan, paired patients could obtain drugs from their preferred pharmacy, with pharmacists providing medication counselling and related drug and health advice.

The bureau also said annually adjusted consultation co-payment fees for the screening and treatment phases of the Primary Healthcare Co-care Network would take effect from November 1. Among 1 239 participating service points, it said 1 022 (82.5 per cent) would keep fees unchanged, 28 would reduce them and 189 would increase them, of which nearly 90 per cent by $50 or below. It put the overall treatment-phase increase at 3.7 per cent.

As at October 7, provisional figures showed more than 300 000 citizens had enrolled, with around 70 000 diagnosed with cardiovascular risk factors and/or chronic hepatitis B entering treatment.