CHAPTER 11
HEALTH
THE government's health care policy is that no one should be denied adequate medical treatment through lack of means. To this end, it provides a range of services and facilities to complement those available in the private sector and to meet the needs of less-affluent patients.
The Organisational Framework
The Department of Health is the government's health adviser and regulatory authority. It safeguards community health through a range of promotional, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services. It also works with the private sector and teaching institutions to deliver primary health care.
The Hospital Authority is an independent body which was established in 1990 to improve the management of all public hospitals. It provides medical treatment and rehabilitation services to patients through hospitals, specialist clinics and outreaching services.
In December 1997, 9 496 doctors were registered with the Medical Council and 37 880 nurses were registered with the Nursing Board. During the year, the number of hospital beds increased to 30 799, representing 4.65 beds per thousand population. The total comprises 26 403 beds in hospitals run by the authority, 3 570 in private hospitals, 754 in correctional institutions and 72 operated by the Department of Health.
Health of the Community
Hong Kong's health indices compare favourably with those of most developed countries. In 1997 the infant mortality rate was four per 1 000 live births and the average life expectancy at birth was 76 years for males and 82 years for females.
Health problems in Hong Kong are mostly due to lifestyle-related chronic degenerative diseases. The four leading causes of death in 1997 were cancers (32 per cent), heart diseases (15 per cent), pneumonia (12 per cent) and cerebrovascular disease (10 per cent). These diseases affect mainly elderly people and will continue to dominate the mortality statistics as the population ages.
A new strain of influenza A virus (H5N1), which was previously known to infect only birds, was detected in man for the first time in Hong Kong in 1997. In all, 18 confirmed cases were reported with six deaths. Investigation showed that the virus was transmitted mainly from bird to man. Various control measures were implemented by the Department of Health to combat the new disease, including
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