HEALTH
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The University of Hong Kong produces about 150 medical doctors a year. A further 100 a year will eventually graduate from Hong Kong's second medical school, which is being established at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
An Institute of Medical and Health Care at the Hong Kong Polytechnic provides training for paramedical staff. The courses, in operation since 1978, include radiography, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, medical laboratory science and dental laboratory technology.
There are three government hospital schools of nursing for registered nurses. Two are for general nursing and one is for psychiatric nursing. Other approved nurse-training schools are attached to government-assisted or private hospitals. The government also runs courses for training enrolled nurses in general nursing and psychiatric nursing, and a one-year course in obstetric nursing for registered nurses. Two more nurse-training schools have been recommended for the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Prince of Wales Hospital, and it is envisaged another will be at the new hospital to be built at Tuen Mun.
The government conducts a continuous post-graduate overseas training programme for qualified nurses as well as in-service training in various fields. It also runs training courses for nurses engaged in public health work.
Government Laboratory
The Government Laboratory is an independent agency providing practical and advisory services to government departments and the private sector in the field of applied chemistry and related scientific disciplines. Its work covers a wide range of activities, including many health-related services.
The examination of pharmaceutical products purchased or made by the government for use in its hospitals and clinics is carried out at the Government Laboratory. Products submitted for registration under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations are also examined. The physical and chemical testing of food under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance is also its responsibility. This work, which stems from the activities of the Hygiene Division of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department, is a consumer protection activity and continues to expand.
In addition, the laboratory carries out urinalysis which is an essential part of the methadone maintenance and detoxification programmes. To meet the needs of the now expended methadone programmes a new methadone laboratory was opened in July.
Dangerous goods and pesticide residue analysis, and determinations of traces of noxious metals are also carried out. Scientific work for the Consumer Council comes under this heading and is a further indication of the government's concern for consumer protection. Environmental science is beginning to feature prominently among the laboratory's concerns, and a sophisticated gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer and a computerised data system was installed during 1980 to enable laboratory examinations in this field.
Narcotics
Drug abuse is a long-standing problem in Hong Kong with serious social, economic, legal, medical and psychological implications. The government's expressed policy is to stop the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs into and through Hong Kong, to develop a multi- modality treatment and rehabilitation programme for drug addicts and to dissuade Hong