What Changed
- Launch of patient pairing in four pilot districts under Phase 1 of the Community Pharmacy Programme by late October 2026.
- Implementation of annual consultation co-payment adjustments for the Primary Healthcare Co-care Network starting November 1, 2026.
- Maintenance of screening co-payment caps at HK$120 for cardiovascular risks and HK$180 for chronic hepatitis B, with 82.5% of service points keeping treatment fees unchanged.
The Health Bureau (HHB) of Hong Kong SAR announced on October 23, 2026, two major primary healthcare initiatives: the launch of patient pairing arrangements under the Community Pharmacy Programme (CPP) (Community) by late October 2026, and annual consultation co-payment fee adjustments under the Primary Healthcare Co-care Network (Co-care Network) taking effect on November 1, 2026. These updates directly affect participating family doctors, designated community pharmacies, Hospital Authority (HA) patients, and over 300,000 enrolled citizens in Hong Kong SAR.
Under the first phase of the CPP (Community), a pilot program will launch across four districts—Eastern, Yau Tsim Mong, Sha Tin, and Yuen Long—involving 20 selected community pharmacies (five per district). Participating family doctors and HA Family Medicine Clinics will pair eligible patients with a designated community pharmacy of their choice. This arrangement enables patients to receive drug refills, medication counselling, and health management services locally, reducing domestic drug accumulation and wastage. The HHB plans to expand the initiative to six additional districts in Phase 2, eight remaining districts in Phase 3, and achieve full citywide coverage across all 18 districts by the fourth quarter of next year.
Concurrently, adjusted consultation co-payments for the Co-care Network will take effect on November 1, 2026. Under the network's co-payment structure, screening fees remain capped at HK$120 for cardiovascular disease risk factor screening and HK$180 for chronic hepatitis B screening. For the treatment phase, 82.5 per cent (1,022 out of 1,239) of participating service points will leave their co-payment fees unchanged. Twenty-eight service points will lower their fees, while 189 points will increase them (with nearly 90 per cent raising fees by HK$50 or less), resulting in an overall average fee increase of 3.7 per cent. Over 60 per cent of service points maintain treatment co-payments at or below the Government-recommended level of HK$150, with the median fee remaining HK$150.
Co-care Network drug co-payments for participants will follow the Community Drug Formulary, whereas drug fees for HA patients will align with the HA's prevailing fee schedule. Members of the public and medical practitioners can verify updated doctor lists and co-payment schedules on the Co-care Network's dedicated website.
Who May Be Affected
Enrolled citizens, participating family doctors, community pharmacies, and Hospital Authority patients in Hong Kong SAR.
Cross-Border Context
Provides a reference point for legal, healthcare, and insurance professionals monitoring regulated public-private primary healthcare and subsidy frameworks in Hong Kong SAR.
What to check next
- Check the Co-care Network dedicated website for updated family doctor consultation co-payment fee schedules published for November 1, 2026.
- Monitor further announcements regarding the Community Drug Formulary and operational guidelines for the Community Pharmacy Programme.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.