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X GENERAL SOCIAL CONDITIONS
38. There were significant developments on four fronts in
the Territory's medical and health services. These were
hospital services, primary health care, Chinese medicine,
and the establishment of an Academy of Medicine.
39.
The statutory Hospital Authority was established on
1 December 1990. It will take over the management and
control of public hospitals in 1991, with a view to
improving the quality and efficiency in the delivery of hospital services. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Government are
examining the feasibility of developing medical insurance so
as to promote greater freedom of choice for patients.
40. The working party set up in August 1989 to review Hong
Kong's primary health care services presented its report in December 1990. It recommended a wide range of measures to improve the quality of primary health care, building on the
existing infrastructure. The Hong Kong Government are
studying these proposals and will be consulting the public
around the middle of 1991. Another working party set up at the same time to study the use and practice of traditional
Chinese medicine in Hong Kong continued its deliberations
throughout the year. It will make an interim report before
the summer of 1991.
41. A Preparatory Committee was appointed to plan and
prepare for the formation of the Hong Kong Academy of
Medicine, which will be responsible for organising and
supervising post-graduate and continuing medical education
and the accreditation of specialist status. The aim is that
the Academy should come into being in 1991.
42. The most significant event in the welfare field during
1990 was probably the publication, for the purpose of public
consultation, of a draft White Paper on social welfare
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