C.S. 166
CONFIDENTIAL
XCC(74)52
- 9 -
機密
Dental Health
31
In the circumstances of Hong Kong the emphasis to date has been placed on the establishment of basic medical and personal health services; less attention has been focussed on the importance of the dental health of the community. It is not practicable for Government to contemplate the introduction of a dental service on the lines of the medical services. However action to promote dental hygiene and proper dental care should now be actively pursued. To this end the draft White Paper includes (Chapter 11) proposals to establish a school dental care service and a dental school. The former proposal was considered and approved by Honourable Members on 27th November last (XCR(73)250).
32
At the same time it is clear from MDAC's assessment that a further local source of supply of dentists must be established. There is no clear guidance, either internationally or locally, on an appropriate planning ratio from which to determine the scale for the proposed school of dentistry. For the reasons however set out in the report of the MDAC and in the draft White Paper at Chapter 11 the proposals appear reasonable at this stage. It is therefore proposed that MDAC's recommendations in relation to the establish- ment and scale of the new dental school be accepted.
Staffing implications
33
The implementation of the proposals in the draft White Paper will necessarily increase the number of medical staff required in the Government service. Proposals are made in the draft White Paper to expand local training facilities for doctors and nurses as well as for the introduction of the dental school (paragraph 32 above). The scale of the new provision required is discussed in the draft White Paper in Chapters 9 and 10. The conclusion reached is that it is desirable to provide new local institutions capable of producing about 100 doctors and up to 300 nurses each year. The further proposals by the MDAC to increase recruitment and to reduce the increasing rate of wastage of nurses have been approved or are under further consideration.
34
The Director of Medical and Health Services emphasises the importance of maintaining the requirement that doctors' qualifications be recognised by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom. Although there has been much publicity
concerning the use that might be made of Chinese graduates now in Hong Kong, he advises that in view of changes in the syllabus
CONFIDENTIAL
機密