184 Health
the Dental Council. Three local universities offer full-time degree programmes in Chinese medicine. In 2005, 47 full-time local Chinese medicine graduates passed the licensing examination and registered as Chinese medicine practitioners.
For allied health professionals, degree programmes in the areas of medical laboratory science, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, optometry and radiography are offered by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with an enrolment of 36, 60, 40, 35 and 36 students respectively in 2005.
The University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the School of General Nursing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital of the Hospital Authority provide basic training for Registered Nurses. The three universities recruited 528 students into their four-year general nursing degree programmes in 2005. In addition, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the School of General Nursing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital enrolled 215 students into their three-year higher diploma nursing programmes. During the year, 48 nurses with professional nursing qualifications obtained outside Hong Kong passed the licensing examinations for Registered Nurses or Enrolled Nurses conducted by the Nursing Council of Hong Kong.
Medical Charges
Medical charges in Hong Kong are affordable and the government subsidy for public sector services covers 97 per cent of costs. Recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) have been exempted from payment of public medical charges. In addition, an enhanced medical fee waiver mechanism has been implemented to protect vulnerable groups other than CSSA recipients, including low-income patients, chronically ill patients and elderly patients suffering economic hardship, against financial burdens arising from healthcare needs.
Government Laboratory
The Government Laboratory offers a comprehensive range of analytical and advisory services to support the Government in upholding its various commitments to protect public health.
In 2005, 136 053 tests on a wide range of food samples were carried out for surveillance and for verifying compliance with the statutory standards. Increasing public concern in food quality and safety issues is evidenced by a general increase in workload, in particular with the significant increase in food complaint cases. The laboratory has also rendered urgent analytical services on various ad hoc issues during the year including the examination of suspected Sudan dyes and the residues of malachite green. Enhanced analytical support was provided to reinforce the existing food surveillance programme.
The laboratory has continued to provide a comprehensive analytical service to ensure the quality of Western and Chinese medicines that constitute an indispensable part of the healthcare system. In 2005, 44 175 tests were carried out on Western pharmaceutical products for compliance with the international or other acceptable