7
Health
ROLF
W
SEVERAL medical projects were completed, new services introduced and sophisticated equipment acquired during 1983 as part of the continued efforts in the vigorous programme of development for the medical and health services. The demand for services continued to rise during 1983 with the increasing population bringing pressure of work on all fronts.
The Medical and Health Department's plan for the 1980s involves the construction of at least five major government hospitals. During 1983, work was completed on the 1 400-bed regional hospital to serve the eastern New Territories - the Prince of Wales Hospital at Sha Tin - to become operational in 1984. Others planned or under construction include a 1 600-bed hospital at Tuen Mun, a 1 500-bed hospital at Chai Wan and two 1 400-bed hospitals in East Kowloon and Tai Po. Plans also include the provision of extension blocks to the three existing regional hospitals: the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Hospitals.
Two clinics were completed during the year, the East Kowloon Polyclinic Stage II and the Shun Tak Fraternity Association Leung Kau Kui Clinic in To Kwa Wan, as part of the development programme under which some 20 general clinics and polyclinics are being built during the decade. The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Centre was completed during the year and construction work finished on the Kwai Chung Hospital mortuary.
Projects completed in the government-subvented sector included the Yan Chai Hospital Extension Stage II, and the Caritas Medical Centre's Enrolled Nurse Training School.
In April, an accident and emergency section became operational at the Chai Wan Health Centre. It has been set up as a stop-gap measure to provide primary treatment to emergency cases as heavy traffic congestion in Eastern District had been delaying the transportation of emergency cases from the area to major government hospitals.
A major development in the latter part of the year was the installation of two computerised axial tomography (CAT) whole-body scanners at the Queen Mary and Princess Margaret Hospitals. These were in addition to the CAT scanner installed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 1982 which has proved a valuable asset in the investigation of cancer and the diagnosis of severe head injuries.
For the financial year 1983-4, the Medical and Health Department's estimated expendi- ture is $1,771.6 million. In addition, subventions totalling about $915.2 million are being made to many non-government medical institutions or organisations.
Health of the Community
Hong Kong people continue to enjoy good general health, largely due to anti-epidemic and disease surveillance measures, developments in preventive and personal health services, and a high standard of living. This progress is further reflected in improvements in the health indices and the decline in the incidence of major communicable diseases.