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HOW
Health
THE demand for medical and health services continues to grow at a steady rate. To cope with this increase in demand, a wide-ranging development programme is being imple- mented including the construction of at least four major hospitals and 18 additional clinics and polyclinics
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In 1985, all the essential units of the new Prince of Wales Hospital became operational, marking an important step in the regionalisation of medical and health services. The 1 446-bed hospital, which is also the teaching hospital for the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is the regional hospital for the eastern New Territories.
During the year, the new Wong Siu Ching Clinic, situated in the heart of Tai Po New Town, was opened. It provides general out-patient treatment as well as family health, chest, social hygiene and ophthalmic services for people in the area. Another major clinic opened during the year was the Tuen Mun Polyclinic Stage II. It provides an additional range of medical specialist services for people residing in the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long areas.
The construction of the Tuen Mun Hospital, with 1 600 beds, is well underway and when completed in 1988 it will support the Princess Margaret Hospital as the major district hospital for the New Territories.
Site formation work on the long-awaited 1 600-bed Eastern District Hospital on Hong Kong Island has started. The hospital will provide a comprehensive range of specialist treatment facilities, including a round-the-clock accident and emergency service and a nurse training school, when it is completed by 1991.
Work on the Queen Mary Hospital extension is continuing steadily and a $389 million contract was awarded in May for work on the second of a three-stage extension programme.
The government has also approved funds for extensive redevelopment works to turn the Ruttonjee Sanatorium in Wan Chai from an institution for chest and tuberculosis patients into a general hospital. The 280-bed sanatorium will be upgraded into a 456-bed general hospital.
During the year, the government invited an overseas consultancy firm to undertake a review of the delivery of medical services in government and subvented hospitals. The consultancy will review the organisation and administrative structure of the hospitals and advise how more effective use might be made of existing resources to overcome problems of overcrowding.
For the 1985-6 financial year, the Medical and Health Department's estimated expendi- ture is $2,347 million. In addition, subventions totalling about $1,130 million are being made to many non-government medical institutions and organisations. The capital expenditure on hospitals and other buildings, including equipment and furniture, totals around $313 million.