The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday it has adjusted the minimum age for the beneficiaries of the government’s denture fitting programme from 70 to 65 years.
According to the bureau, the programme aims to subsidise the fittings of dentures for those aged 65 and above who face financial difficulties, in order to give them better dental care and improve their quality of life. Those aged 70 and above have benefitted since the early stages of the programme.
The programme was launched in 2019 by the bureau in conjunction with local non-profit medical institutions, with the first stage having offered subsidies for those eligible aged 80 or above, and the second phase in 2020 having lowered the minimum age to 75 or above, while the third phase in 2022 adjusted the age to 70 or above, now further reducing the minimum age requirement to 65 and above.
Therefore, the statement said, the bureau has begun informing senior citizens between the ages of 65 and 69, who are also receiving financial support from the government, about the measure, after which those who are eligible and want to join the programme will be offered appointments with the Department of Stomatology of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre (CHCSJ) for an initial dental assessment.
The beneficiaries will then be referred to local non-profit medical institutions for fitting their dentures.
According to the statement, after the dentures have been fitted the recipients will have regular check-ups at the public hospital.
For enquiries, please call the Department of Stomatology on 8390 8986 or the Admissions Department on 8390 8851 during the public hospital’s office hours.
This undated photo shows an elderly man about to put a denture in his mouth. – Courtesy of Unsplash
