HEALTH
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Other regular activities of the unit, including the health education van broadcasting in housing estates, the out-patient department slide programme service, regular radio pro- grammes and health talks for specific groups, continued to be popular.
Medical Charges
In July, the charge for consultation at a general out-patient clinic was increased from $7 to $9. The charge for consultation at a specialist clinic was also raised, from $10 to $12. These charges cover medicine as well as X-ray examinations and laboratory tests. Charges for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and child assessment were raised to $12 per visit. Charges for injections and dressings went up from $2 to $3 while charges at visiting family planning clinics and methadone clinics remained unchanged at $1. Even at the increased rate, the charges still represent a substantial subsidy from public funds. They may be reduced or waived in cases of hardship certified by a medical social worker.
From July, patients in third class beds in government hospitals were charged $18 per day, an increase of $3. This fee is all inclusive, covering diet, X-ray examinations, laboratory tests, drugs, surgery and any other forms of special treatment required. The fee for home visits by community nurses was also increased, from $15 to $18. These fees may also be waived if warranted. Despite the increase, hospital charges remain barely adequate to cover the cost of patients' meals. A limited number of private beds, with higher maintenance and treatment charges, are provided at major government hospitals.
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 of Health Personnel
Graduates of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong are awarded degrees recognised by the General Medical Council of Great Britain. Both the government and the university maintain a comprehensive post-graduate training programme. Opportunities are available for local doctors to sit for higher professional examinations, attain fellowships and attend professional conferences, seminars and workshops. During the year, more than 115 qualified doctors went overseas under government sponsorship or with the help of scholarships to receive further training.
The University of Hong Kong produces about 150 medical doctors a year. The student intake at the Medical School of the Chinese University of Hong Kong remains at 120. The first batch of doctors from the Chinese University of Hong Kong will be graduating in 1986 and be ready for full registration in 1987. In 1985, 85 doctors who had successfully passed the local licentiateship examination started their externship training in local medical institutions.
Training in dentistry is provided at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, and some 70 dentists graduated in 1986. The Tang Shiu Kin Dental Therapists Training School is responsible for training the dental therapists required by the rapidly expanding school dental care programme.
The number of nurses employed by the government has grown to more than 9 500. Basic training for general registered nurses is available at government, government-assisted and private hospitals. There are now eight such training schools with an average annual training capacity of about 1 050 places. Over the next decade three more nurse training schools are planned. The average annual training capacity for general enrolled nurses will be increased from 568 to 733.