10
HOLF
Health
THE Medical and Health Department provides a balanced programme of preventive, curative and rehabilitative services at a nominal cost to members of the community.
The preventive health service is responsible for the provision of personal health services, anti-epidemic work, control of infectious diseases and promotion of positive health. The services provided include family health, general public health, port health, school health, health education, social hygiene, chest health and tuberculosis, occupational health and dental health.
On the curative side, the services are provided through a network of hospitals and clinics. A multi-disciplinary approach in medical rehabilitation is undertaken which includes the provision of occupational therapy, physiotherapy, prosthetic service, psychological serv- ices, speech therapy and community care in medical rehabilitation centres, day hospitals, out-patient clinics and polyclinics.
The department is also embarking on an extensive development programme which includes the construction of at least four additional major acute government hospitals and 18 additional clinics and polyclinics in the coming 10 years. Rehabilitation services are also included in the overall planning of the programme.
On the construction side, the 1 600-bed Tuen Mun Hospital is near completion, and will provide a comprehensive range of medical services for the west New Territories region.
On Hong Kong Island, construction work is being carried out on the 1 600-bed Pamela Youde Hospital and will be completed in 1991.
Work on Stage II of the extension to Queen Mary Hospital is expected to be completed in 1989, providing two multi-storey blocks with an addition of about 800 beds, and some new psychiatric and paediatric facilities.
Meanwhile, funds have been approved for extensive redevelopment of the 280-bed Ruttonjee Sanatorium in Wan Chai, to convert it from an institution for chest and tuberculosis patients into a general hospital, with 614 beds.
In 1987, the government decided to establish a Hospital Authority to oversee the delivery of hospital services for the whole of Hong Kong. In doing so, it set up in October 1988, a Provisional Hospital Authority, chaired by Sir S. Y. Chung to prepare for the formation of the statutory Hospital Authority.
Earlier, in October 1986, a working party on Postgraduate Medical Education and Training had been established to examine the various aspects of postgraduate medical training in Hong Kong. The purpose of this is to ensure a continuing high standard of medical education. The working party submitted its report to the government towards the end of the year.
For the 1988-9 financial year, the Medical and Health Department expects to spend $3,386 million. In addition, subventions totalling $1,464 million are being made to many