CMC(74) II/B8
DELIVERY OF HEALTH SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS
Background Paper prepared by the Government of Hong Kong
Hong Kong is largely an urban development and only a small percentage of the population can be considered to be living in rural areas.
The average GDP 1971 per capita is HK $5,023 = US$1,000. Primary education is compulsory for all children under the age of 14. 75.2 per cent of the popula- tion aged five and over were attending or have completed primary school or higher. The registered doctor/population ration is 1:1600.
2. Delivery of health care is undertaken by many grades of health staff from the very well-trained specialists/doctors down to the health auxiliaries, each with his own line of responsibility. Traditional medicine is still practised: the health authority and medical profession do not object to the co-existence of Western and traditional Chinese medicine. There is no distinction of rural physician in Hong Kong.
Non-medical leaders do not participate in health activities.
3. High priority has been given to preventive medicine for years, e.g. control of infectious diseases and provision of wholesome water, improve- ment of the environment, etc. The Medical and Health Department advises and liaises closely with other government departments for the planning and development of sanitary services. Over 90 per cent of the population get their water from mains supply.
4.
For the relatively remote areas with no health centres/clinics, a travelling dispensary, two floating clinics and a flying doctor team deliver health services direct to the people.
5. The problem faced by the Medical and Health Department lies in the posting of staff to outlying areas and in the substantial maintenance expenses incurred. Radio and air transport are being used and a simple system of reporting is adopted to ascertain the need for the service exists.
3 October, 1974.