Opinion | Fix booking system for dentist visits

Hong Kong’s public healthcare system ranks favorably in the world, thanks to its professional and heavily subsidized services.

However, wait times for non-urgent medical care can be very long. The situation is further complicated by the city’s rapidly aging population.

As a report by the Audit Commission showed, the shortage of dental services is even more serious. The appointment quota of 11 government clinics has almost halved from 40,322 in 2018-19 to 20,337 in 2022-23.

But demand increased over the same period, filling 92.3 percent of all available quota places, rising to 99.2 percent. The health department blamed the COVID-19 pandemic and shortage of personnel for the reduction in services.

On-site observations by government auditors found that patients often had to line up for hours in person for the limited spots that were available from 12 noon each day. Some people were seen queuing at three clinics around 10pm, meaning overnight waits for consultation may be common.

Hong Kong auditor calls for more dental appointments in public clinics

Shortage of dentists is not a new thing. But the problem has increased in recent years due to severe brain drain in the medical field.

Officials recorded a 27 percent vacancy rate as of January. It is estimated that there will be a shortage of 115 physicians in 2030, before reducing to 102 in 2035. The situation was expected to improve further in 2040.

About three-quarters of the city’s 2,504 dentists work out of public clinics, putting private dental services out of reach for the poor.

The prohibitively expensive fees of local private dentists have already led more patients to seek relief from clinics that are more affordable across the border.

Unfortunately, many retirees and poor seniors are not able to do this.

The Legislative Council should expedite amendments to the Dentists Registration Ordinance which will create new avenues to bring in foreign-trained dentists.

Meanwhile, patients may have to endure pain or queue overnight for discounted consultations at public clinics. Auditors’ calls for a new booking system and greater coverage for urgent cases should be heeded.