HEALTH
Health Education
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The Medical and Health Department's Central Health Education Unit plans and carries through health educational programmes either departmentally or in co-operation with voluntary agencies. The major theme for the year was on the prevention of communicable diseases with activities aimed at increasing the public's understanding of the nature of such diseases and their means of prevention, through exhibitions, poster design competitions, and television and radio programmes. The department also played an active role in the Anti-Smoking campaign with publicity drives through the media, seminars, lectures and workshops to school children, and through local doctors who were called upon to help persuade patients to give up smoking.
Other continuing programmes included healthy lifestyles for adolescents, tuberculosis detection, Family Health Services, home safety, eye care, nutrition and health of the elderly. In January, two health educational audio-visual centres were set up to provide an extended range of services on various health topics for public viewing and reference, as well as a free loan service for interested groups, voluntary agencies and schools.
Medical Charges
In April, the charge for a consultation at a general out-patient clinic was increased from $3 to $5, and from $3 to $6 per consultation at a specialist clinic. This fee, which was last revised in 1980, includes medicine as well as X-ray examinations and laboratory tests. Charges for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and child assessment were raised to $6 per treatment. The charges for injections and dressings at general clinics were increased from $1 to $2, while the $1 fee per visit to family planning clinics and methadone clinics remained unchanged. Even with the increased rate, the charges still represent a substantial subsidy from public funds. The charges may be reduced or waived in cases of hardship certified by a medical social worker.
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Patients in third class beds in government hospitals are now charged $10 per day, an increase of $5. This fee is all inclusive, ranging from diet to X-ray examinations, laboratory tests, drugs, surgery and any other forms of special treatment required. The same scale applies to home visits by community nurses an increase from $5 to $10 per visit. Again, these fees may be waived if necessary. The $5 charge had been in effect since 1977 and even with the increase, the fee is barely sufficient to cover the cost of the hospital meals. A limited number of private beds is provided at major government hospitals with higher maintenance and treatment charges.
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Free medical services continued to be offered at maternal and child health centres, tuberculosis and chest clinics, social hygiene clinics, accident and emergency departments, floating clinics and through the 'flying doctor' scheme.
Training
Graduates of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong are awarded Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees recognised by the General Medical Council of Great Britain. Both the government and the university maintain a comprehen- sive post-graduate training programme. Opportunities are available for local doctors to sit for higher professional examinations, attain fellowships and attend professional confer- ences, seminars and workshops. During the year, more than 170 qualified doctors went overseas under government sponsorship or other scholarships to receive further training.
The University of Hong Kong produces about 150 medical doctors a year. The Chinese University of Hong Kong has progressively increased its annual intake of medical students