11
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978
REVIEW OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT
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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCENE IS ON THE THRESHOLD OF A RARE COMBINATION OF STIRRING EVENTS -- THE IMPENDING BIRTH OF A NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL WITH ITS CONCOMITANT TEACHING HOSPITAL AT SHA TIN AND A NEW DENTAL SCHOOL AT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, AND THE INTRODUCTION OF A DENTAL HEALTH CARE SCHEME FOR THE SCHOOL-GOING POPULATION,
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG, SAID THIS IN HIS REVIEW OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE SAID THESE, TOGETHER WITH OTHER WIDE RANGING PLANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, PRESENTED AN +EXCITING CHALLENGE+ TO THOSE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THE DEPARTMENT.
+IT IS OUR DUTY AND OBLIGATION TO TAKE UP THIS GAUNTLET. TO DO OTHERWISE WILL SURELY RESULT IN SOMETHING MUCH LESS THAN THAT IDEAL STATE OF PHYSICAL. MENTAL AND SOCIAL WELL- BEING WHICH EVERY TERRITORY IN THE WORLD PROFESSES TO ACHIEVE BUT ONLY A COMPARATIVE FEW CAN HOPE TO ATTAIN, HE SAID.
+HAPPILY FOR US IN HONG KONG, WE MAY PRIDE OURSELVES IN BEING INCLUDED AMONG THE SELECTED FEW JUDGING BY OUR HEALTH STATISTICS, HE ADDED.
DR. THONG SAID SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE DURING THE YEAR IN THE VARIOUS AREAS OF THE MEDICAL SERVICES AS A RESULT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS LAID DOWN IN THE 10-YEAR MEDICAL WHITE PAPER.
THE REGIONAL ISATION SCHEME, FOR INSTANCE, HAS ACHIEVED ITS MAIN OBJECTIVE OF RELIEVING THE PRESSURE ON THE TWO MAJOR REGIONAL HOSPITALS THE QUEEN MARY AND QUEEN ELIZABETH.
DR. THONG SAID FOR YEARS, A REGULAR FEATURE IN THESE TWO HOSPITALS HAD BEEN THE USE OF CAMP BEDS NUMBERING 100 AND 160 A DAY RESPECTIVELY.
+TODAY, I AM GLAD TO SAY THE PICTURE IS VISIBLY DIFFERENT, + HE SAID.
FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS ON AN AVERAGE DAY, ONLY A FEW OF SUCH BEDS, IF AT ALL,MAY BE SEEN IN USE AND ONLY AT ODD TIMES WHEN ADMISSIONS ARE PARTICULARLY HEAVY DUE TO EMERGENCIES SUCH AS MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
/+THIS RESULT