Occupational Therapy
Paragraphe
182 185
-
Prosthetic-Orthotic Service
186
188
Medical Examination Board
189
Hospital Maintenance and Supply
190
195
Auxiliary Medical Service Registration of Medical Clinics
196 202
2.
203 204
V.
GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED HOSPITALS
205
231
VI.
TRAINING PROGRAMME
232
234
Doctors
235
237
Dental Staff
238
240
3.
Nursing Staff
241
246
Radiographers
247
Laboratory Technicians
248
Physiotherapists
249
Other Forms of Departmental Training
250
VII.
DEVELOPMENT
Forward Planning
Completed Projects
Projects under Construction
251
259
260
261
262
VIII.
MAPS
IX.
STATISTICAL, APPENDICES
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Reference Library
1. INTRODUCTION
The following is a summary of significant events and developments which occurred in 1973–74.
General
It is gratifying to note from vital statistics that the health of the population remained good during the year. The general picture is favourable, and reflects the rapid improvement of medical and health services for a young and expanding population. An interesting development relates to the crude birth rate. At 19.3, this was below the rate for 1972 which was 19.4, whereas in 1971, it was 19.0. This slight fluctuation over the past three years is of topical interest as the Department has now assumed a direct role in family planning.
There was no outbreak of cholera in 1973 and routine examination of nightsall samples did not reveal the presence of cholera vibrio. There was however no room for complacency, and the public were advised from time to time to observe strictly the rules of personal and food hygiene. The record of freedom from cholera in Hong Kong since the last notification in 1969 remains unbroken.
4.
Tuberculosis continued to be the major cause of death among the communicable diseases. Although virtually eradicated among the young as a result of vaccination with B.C.G. of the new-born, the disease still took a significant toll among the unprotected adult population, but there was a gratifying fall of the mortality from 32.2 per 100,000 population in 1972 to 27.7 this year. The Chest Service, with the collaboration of the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom, is continuing to carry out research work on various aspects of tuberculosis.
5.
The emphasis on tuberculosis as a continuing problem should be seen in the proper perspective of its relationship to the other major causes of mortality. This year tuberculosis ranked sixth, the first being cancer, followed by heart diseases, pneumonia, cerebro-vascular diseases and accidents. In 1973, the death rate from cancer rose to 109.1 per 100,000 of the population from 107.3 in 1972. The commonest types were cancer of the lung, primary cancer of the liver, nasopharyngeal cancer, and cancer of the stomach.
The incidence of venereal diseases increased by 0.6 per cent over that of the previous period. This represented a very small rise as the increase for 1972-73 was 12 per cent. Among teenagers, the incidence was approximately 5.4 per cent of the total cases of venereal diseases.
Family Planning
The year 1973 is a significant one from the point of view of family planning. As from the beginning of October, the Department commenced the first of a three-phase operation to take over family planning clinics hitherto run by the Family Planning Association in 28 Government institutions and 2 hospitals; this was completed in three months.
Ref. No.
XI
Acc. No.
306 4593
Date
18 APR 1977
4629 1560
6.
4957 5683
7.
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