The number of residents and doctors taking part in the Chronic Diseases Co-Care Pilot Scheme is "very encouraging", according to the secretary for health on Saturday.

The three-year pilot scheme, rolled out in November 2023, aims to detect chronic diseases in the early stages and offers limited subsidised diabetes and hypertension consultations for those aged 45 or above.

It was expanded to cover blood lipid testing in March this year.

The government expects to recruit 200,000 residents when the scheme ends next year.

Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, Lo Chung-mau said 140,000 residents have so far signed up for the scheme, 80,000 of which have completed all the screening.

He said almost 40 percent of them were found to have high blood sugar or hypertension.

"We have, right now, 640 doctors joining, and they have close to 900 service points for our participants to get the service," Lo said.

There is, he said after the show, room for improvement.

"We will be conducting interim analysis for this and we will be making measures and considering reviewing the current program with the intent to improve it, to encourage more doctors participating as well as our people participating," Lo said.

"But right now I think this is very encouraging."

The government also hopes to encourage more men to join the programme, Lo said, adding that most of the participants are female and men may be more likely to suffer from chronic diseases.

Lo also revealed that the bureau is considering a manpower deployment to address the needs of districts with higher demand for evening outpatient services.

Separately, newly appointed Under Secretary for Health Cecilia Fan said she will make use of her previous experience as a family medicine consultant at the Department of Health in her new post.

Dr Fan has over 30 years of experience working at the department.

"I will try to actually contribute to all health policies, actually in all aspects," she said.

"But having said that, because my previous experience is more focused on family medicine and public health, so I think I definitely can contribute more in the primary health care policies through the district health centres, this chronic disease co-care programme, as well as the life course approach for the citizens."