Radiology and Oncology Service
The Medical & Health Department's Institute of Radiology and Oncology comprise of two major Divisions : the Diagnostic Radiology Division with the Nuclear Medicine Unit and the Radiotherapy and Oncology Division with its Medical Physics Unit.
The Diagnostic Radiology Division provides a diagnostic organ imaging service for Government institutions and one Government subvented hospital, the Nam Long Hospital. A consultant service is available to all Government subvented hospitals and private medical practitioners on a fee charging basis.
The Nuclear Medicine Unit, based at Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals, is under the charge of a consultant of nuclear medicine. The main task of the unit is to co-ordinate and improve various nuclear medicine procedures and to train up medical personnel in the specialty.
The Radiotherapy and Oncology Division based at the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary and Prince of Wales Hospitals provides a comprehensive radiotherapy as well as chemotherapy service. The Division treats more than 90% of the patients requiring radiation therapy in the population. The population based Cancer Registry operated by the unit was computerised during the year.
The Medical Physics Section is responsible for all radiological equipment of the Institute in all respects. It provides physics service and training and is also responsible for radiation safety within the Institute and planning of new radiological projects.
The Radiobiology Section is engaged in Cancer and Radiobiological Research. Together with the Radiation Therapy and Oncology and Physics Divisions, they play an essential role in the training of radiotherapists and oncologists.
The Institute operates 4 in-service training courses: one for radiologists, one for radiotherapists and oncologists for the fellowship examinations of the Royal College of Radiologists in the United Kingdom, one for therapy radiographers for the diploma examination of the College of Radiographers in London, and one for Mould Laboratory Technicians for the certificate examination in Hould Laboratory Technology of the Medical and Health Department.
The Radiation Health Unit working under the direction of the Radiation Board undertakes regular visits to medical, commercial and industrial premises to inspect the working condition of radiation workers. Radiation licences are issued to the proprietors in accordance with the Radiation Ordinance and Regulations. The unit also assisted in the Background Radiation Monitoring Programme.
Pharmaceutical Service
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The Pharmaceutical Service is made up of two main divisions. Hospital and Clinic Pharmaceutical Service has a staff of 789 including 55 pharmacists. The second division is the Forensic Pharmacy Service with an establishment of 17 pharmacists supported by a number of clerical staff.
In the Hospital and Clinic Pharmaceutical Service, the continual expansion of the medical services and the introduction of new and sophisticated drugs had resulted in higher drug expenditure. The total amounted to about $285 million in 1986 as compared with the expenditure of $231 millions for the previous year. In view of the high level of expenditure, the budgetary control system had been improved and various cost control methods were being studied in an attempt to make the service more cost effective. Plans were also in hand for computerizing the pharmaceutical inventory control system.
On the pharmacy law enforcement side, the Inspection and Licensing Unit kept in check the illegal sale and distribution of poisons and antibiotics. There were a total of 112 prosecutions in the year. The Law Enforcement Section had been increasingly called upon by other law enforcement and social service agencies to give lectures on the classification, identification, control and abuse potential of pharmaceutical products.
Examinations for the registration of pharmacists were held as usual in June and December, to enable pharmacy graduates from non- commonwealth countries to practise in Hong Kong. A total of 68 candidates sat and 14 passed.
VII Medical Development
The demand for medical and health services continues to grow at a steady rate. To cope with the increase in demand, a wide ranging development programme is being implemented including the construction of at least four major hospitals and 21 additional clinics and polyclinics.
The construction of the Tuen Mun Hospital, which will have 1 600 beds, is near completion and a topping out ceremony for the hospital was performed in August 1986. When completed in 1988, the hospital will reinforce medical services in the western region of the New Territories.
Site formation work on the long awaited 1 600 bed Eastern District Hospital on Hong Kong Island has started. The hospital will provide a comprehensive range of specialist treatment facilities, including round the clock accident and emergency service and a nurse training school when it is completed by 1991/92.
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