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HEALTH
facilities, the services were regionalised in April and the whole of Hong Kong was divided into four regions. The ultimate aim is to bring about a better appreciation of the medical and health needs of each of the main population centres through the provision of reasonably accessible services.
The results of regionalisation have so far been encouraging. Pressure on the two major hospitals - Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital - has been reduced. Camp beds in these two hospitals have at last been virtually eliminated and bed occupancy in the various district hospitals, especially those in the subvented sector, has increased significantly.
In addition to hospital services, the Medical and Health Department maintains facilities covering family health, school health, industrial health, port health and the control of communicable diseases.
For the 1977-8 financial year, the Medical and Health Department's estimated expenditure is $512 million. In addition, subventions totalling about $261.5 million are being made to many non-government medical institutions and organisations. The estimated capital expenditure on hospitals and other buildings, including furni- ture and equipment, is $30.3 million.
Health of the Community
Cancer and heart diseases are now the main causes of death in Hong Kong following the successful control of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, once the main killer disease. The infant mortality rate is now lower than in many developed countries. This is due to an improved environment, the development of maternal and child health services, and increasing public appreciation of the value of these services.
Notifications of communicable diseases totalled 12,087 in 1977. No quarantinable diseases were reported.
The incidence and the number of deaths from tuberculosis continued to decline. About 99 per cent of new-born babies are vaccinated with BCG – probably the highest rate in the world. As a result, tuberculosis is now rare among those under 15.
Venereal diseases are treated free at social hygiene clinics. About five per cent of the patients are teenagers, but there has not been any appreciable increase in the incidence of the disease in this group since 1971. Energetic control measures, such as contact tracing, following up defaulters and routine ante-natal blood tests, are all aimed at interrupting the chain of infection.
Leprosy has been brought under control. Patients who need hospitalisation are treated in the Lai Chi Kok Hospital, but the majority are treated as outpatients at special skin clinics.
Malaria transmission has ceased in Hong Kong. The vector does not exist in the urban areas or the greater part of the New Territories. However, anti-larval operations, such as draining and clearing streams, ditching and oiling, are still carried out. In parts of the New Territories, screens on buildings and mosquito nets are the main preventive measures.
Mass immunisation against diptheria continued to maintain a high level of im- munity among children. Only one case - in August was reported.
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Poliomyelitis has been eradicated for the past four years. Oral vaccine is offered at family health service centres throughout the year and a general immunisation cam-