CHAPTER 10
Health
ONE of the cornerstones of the Government's health care policies is that no one should be denied adequate medical treatment through lack of means. The public health care sector provides a range of services and facilities to meet the health care. needs of the community. In December 2000, the Health and Welfare Bureau published a Consultation Document on Health Care Reform, which sets out strategic reform proposals to improve the service delivery, quality assurance and long-term financial sustainability of the health care system of Hong Kong. The vision is to create a health care system that promotes health, provides lifelong holistic care, enhances quality of life and enables full human development.
The Organisational Framework
The Department of Health is the Government's health adviser and regulatory authority. It safeguards the community's health through a range of promotional, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services. It also works with the private sector and teaching institutions to protect public health.
The Hospital Authority is a statutory body established in 1990 under the Hospital Authority Ordinance to manage all public hospitals. It provides medical treatment and rehabilitation services to patients through hospitals, specialist clinics and outreaching services.
In December, 10 130 doctors were registered with the Medical Council of Hong Kong and 40 388 nurses were registered with the Nursing Council of Hong Kong. There were 35 100 hospital beds in Hong Kong, representing 5.1 beds per thousand population: 29 432 beds in hospitals run by the Hospital Authority, 2 928 in private hospitals, 1 998 in nursing homes and 716 in correctional institutions. The Department of Health also provides 26 beds for general out-patient clinics and maternity homes located in the outlying islands.
Health of the Community
Hong Kong's health indices compare favourably with those of most developed countries. In 2000, the infant mortality rate was 2.9 per thousand live births and the average life expectancy at birth was 77.2 years for males and 82.4 for females.
Health problems in Hong Kong are mostly associated with lifestyle-related chronic degenerative diseases. The four leading causes of death in 2000 were cancers (32.9 per cent), heart diseases (15.6 per cent), cerebrovascular diseases (10.5 per cent) and pneumonia (8.9 per cent). These diseases affect mainly elderly people and will continue to dominate the mortality statistics as the population ages.
177