HEALTH
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In November, the major campaign 'Health for All, All for Health' was launched with an exhibition that attracted a large audience. And in December, the unit was heavily involved in the 'Community AIDS Concern Week'.
Increased community concern for health was shown by the popularity of the various health education programmes offered, such as the 24-hour telephone information service and the slide and video shows at out-patient clinics.
Close liaison was maintained with the media, medical professionals and other govern- ment departments for the smooth implementation of various campaigns and activities. The unit took part in many press interviews and television and radio programmes, including a TV series on health knowledge. Collaboration with medical bodies and various units in the department resulted in the increased production of useful health education materials for the public.
Medical Charges
Medical charges remained low, reflecting a substantial subsidy from public funds despite the adjustment in August. Patients in the general wards of government hospitals were charged $26 a day and the fee covered everything from meals, medicine and laboratory tests, to surgery or any other treatment required. The charge may also be reduced or waived in cases of hardship as certified by a medical social worker. A limited number of private beds are provided at major government hospitals with correspondingly higher maintenance and treatment charges.
The charge for consultation at general out-patient clinics was $13 while that for specialist clinics was $20. Charges for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and child assessment were $20. Attendance at geriatric or psychiatric day centre and home visits by community nurses cost $21. These fees may also be waived if warranted.
The charge for injections and dressings in general out-patient clinics was $5 while visits to family planning clinics and methadone clinics remained at $1.
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Free medical services continued to be offered at maternal and child health centres, tuberculosis and chest clinics, social hygiene clinics and accident and emergency departments.
Training of Health Personnel
The basic training of doctors is provided by the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Graduates of the two medical schools are awarded degrees recognised by the General Medical Council of Great Britain. The student intake at the University of Hong Kong remained at 150 for the year. During the year, the Chinese University of Hong Kong produced its third group of 70 doctors, and these will be ready for full registration in 1989.
The government and the two universities maintain a comprehensive post-graduate training programme for doctors, providing opportunities for doctors to receive training overseas, sit for higher professional examinations, attain higher qualifications, and attend professional conferences, seminars and workshops. In 1988, 172 doctors went overseas for further training under government sponsorship, or with the help of scholarships.
Under the licentiate scheme of the Hong Kong Medical Council, 30 externally trained doctors passed the local licentiate examination in 1988.
The Prince Philip Dental Hospital produced 68 dentists in 1988. The training of dental therapists is provided at the Tang Shiu Kin Dental Therapists Training School.
The basic training for general registered nurses is conducted at government, government- assisted and private hospitals. There are now nine such training schools with an average