HEALTH
162
Patients in general wards of public hospitals are charged $60 a day. This covers a comprehensive range of services from meals, medicine and tests to surgery or other treatment. The charge may be reduced or waived in cases of hardship certified by a medical social worker. Some private beds are provided at major public hospitals with higher maintenance and treatment charges.
A consultation at general out-patient clinics costs $34, while that at specialist clinics is $40. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and child assessment services cost $40 per session. Attendance at geriatric or psychiatric day centres and home visits by community nurses cost $48 per session. These fees may also be waived if warranted. The charge for injections and dressings in general out-patient clinics is $14, while charges for visits to family planning clinics and methadone clinics remain at $1. 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.
To assist financially-needy, chronically-ill patients, the government in 1995 abolished charges for many items used in medical treatment. Eligibility criteria for the Samaritan Fund were also relaxed, so that patients with earnings below the Median Monthly Household Income level could apply for financial assistance with their medical expenses.
A pilot scheme to introduce semi-private rooms is being carried out in three - hospitals and arrangements for a co-ordinated voluntary insurance scheme are being
examined in conjunction with the medical insurance industry.
Smoking and Health
The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health is an independent statutory body, established in 1987 to acquire and disseminate information on the hazards of using tobacco products, and to advise the government on matters relating to smoking and health.
After a public consultation exercise on further anti-smoking proposals in 1992, amendments to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance were passed in 1994 and came into effect on various dates between 1994 and 1995. These extend require- ments for health warnings on cigarette packaging and advertising to cigars and pipe tobacco; prohibit the sale (or giving for the purposes of promotion) of tobacco products to people under the age of 18, with tobacco retailers having to display a sign to this effect; and require all restaurants to display a sign stating whether or not they have a non-smoking area. Further anti-smoking measures are being considered in line with World Health Organisation plans.
Training of Medical and Health Personnel
Basic training of doctors is provided by the University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where the medical student intake in 1995 was 171 and 162, respectively. Under the Licentiate Scheme of the Hong Kong Medical Council, 25 externally-trained doctors passed the local licentiate examination in 1995. The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine is an independent statutory body with the authority to approve, assess and accredit all post-internship medical training. Since