The first of three women wellness satellites (WWSs) in Hong Kong will commence operation on June 12, providing eligible women, aged 64 or below, with prevention-based and more personalized primary healthcare services.

Located on the second floor of Chai Wan Health Centre at 1 Hong Man Street, the wellness satellite will open six days a week, with a minimum eight-hour service most days. The satellite will operate until 8 pm two days a week, according to the city's Health Bureau.

Equipped with a health promotion and education room, doctor and nurse consultation rooms, and health assessment rooms, it spans a total floor area of about 380 square meters.

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The two other centers – WWS (Kowloon) in Lam Tin and WWS (New Territories) in Tuen Mun – are both expected to begin operating in September.

In January, the special administrative region government announced that women’s health services under the Department of Health would be integrated into the Primary Health Care Commission, with three WWSs established.

In the interim, the operator, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, will establish two transitional service points in Yau Ma Tei and North Point to facilitate the delivery of women’s health services.

The WWSs will provide health assessments, individual consultations, cervical and breast cancer screenings, and dedicated nurse clinic services to eligible women. When necessary, cases will be referred to family doctors for follow-up.

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Eligible women will receive a partial subsidy from the SAR government and will have to pay a designated co-payment fee.

Women aged 64 or below who wish to use the services must first register as members of a District Health Centre or District Health Centre Express. As of June 1, over 680 women have received preliminary assessments through such centers, with more than 600 arranging to receive services at the WWSs.

The centers will also arrange for women who are Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients or are subject to full or partial medical fee waivers by the Hospital Authority, to receive preventive care and health promotion services at seven selected public clinics.