The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement on Friday it had adjusted the minimum age of the beneficiaries of the government’s denture pilot programme from 75 years to 70.
According to the bureau, the programme aims to subsidise the fitting of dentures for those aged 70 and above who face financial difficulties, in order to give them more dental care and to improve their quality of life, while those that are eligible who are aged 80 and above have already benefited in the early stages of the programme.
The programme was launched in 2019 by the bureau and local non-profit medical institutions, with the first stage offering subsidies for those eligible aged 80 or above, and the second phase in 2020 adjusting the age to 75 or above, now further reducing the age requirement to 70 and above.
Therefore, the statement said that on Friday the bureau began informing senior citizens between the ages of 70 and 74 who are also receiving the government’s financial support, after which those who are eligible and want to join the programme will have appointments arranged at the Department of Stomatology of the public Conde de Sao Januário Hospital Centre (CHCSJ) for an initial dental assessment. The beneficiaries will then be referred to local non-profit medical institutions for the fitting of their dentures.
According to the statement, after the dentures have been fitted the recipients will have a check-up at the public hospital.
For enquiries, please call the Department of Stomatology (8390 8986) or the Admissions Department (8390 8851) of the public hospital during office hours.
This undated photo shows an elderly man about to put a denture in his mouth. – Courtesy of Unsplash
