Hong Kong’s public dental clinics recorded an overall absence rate of 26.5 per cent on the first two working days of an online booking system’s launch, prompting authorities to consider introducing a waiting list to ensure proper use of services.
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The Department of Health said 111 of the 151 people who were allocated a quota spot were treated on Tuesday and Thursday at the six dental clinics using the new registration system.
Three of the clinics using the new booking system were located in Yuen Long, Fanling and Tsuen Wan, which offered appointments on Tuesday, while another three offering services on Thursday were in Tai Po, Kowloon City and Sai Kung.
But 40 people who were given a quota spot did not show up for the appointments, with 23 of them aged 65 or older.
“Some people, who were given a quota spot but did not attend the appointments, said they were absent due to other engagements or that they forgot about the bookings,” the department said.
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“Some were also not aware that public dental sessions were only offering emergency dental services.”