WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1979
19
REASONS GIVEN FOR CLOSING AES CLINIC
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THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN) HAS UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED THAT THE ACUPUNCTURE ELECTRO-STIMULATION EXPERIMENT SHOULD CEASE AFTER 18 MONTHS AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED SO THAT A MORE THOROUGH REVIEW COULD BE MADE BOTH BY THE COMMITTEE AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE (NIDA) OF THE UNITED STATES.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. T.S. LO.
EXPLAINING THE REASONS FOR, AND THE RESULTS OF, THE CLOSURE OF THE AES CLINIC, DR. THONG SAID PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT BY ACAN SHOWED THE EXPERIMENT +MAY NOT BE REGARDED AS AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS AND THE EXACT ROLE AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF AES AS A TREATMENT MODALITY IN HONG KONG HAVE YET TO BE EVALUATED AND DETERMINED.+
HE SAID THE AES CLINIC WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT FROM THE BEGINNING WHICH GIVES NO GUARANTEE OF PERMANENCE.
A REPORT HAS ALSO BEEN SENT TO NIDA WHICH COMMISSIONED AND FINANCED THE EXPERIMENT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE AND WHICH IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF ASSESSING THE REPORT, HE ADDED.
AFTER THE CLINIC CLOSED, DR. THONG WENT ON, ACAN HAS BEEN CAREFULLY CONSIDERING THE FUTURE INTEREST AND WELFARE OF THE PATIENTS AND THE STAFF EMPLOYED ON THE PROJECT.
WHEN THE PROJECT ENDED ON DECEMBER 31 LAST YEAR THERE WAS A DAILY ATTENDANCE OF AROUND 14 CASES WHICH INCLUDED ON AN AVERAGE ONE NEW CASE PER DAY, SAID DR. THONG.
+THE NUMBERS INVOLVED WERE SMALL AND, ALSO, BY FAR THE MAJORITY OF THE PATIENTS WERE ALREADY BEING TREATED BY METHADONE,+
+THERE SHOULD, THEREFORE, BE NO DIFFICULTIES FOR THE GOVERNMENT METHADONE PROGRAMME OR OTHER PROGRAMMES SUCH AS THAT OPERATED BY THE SOCEITY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ABUSERS (SARDA) TO CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF THESE PATIENTS,* HE SAID.
AS TO THE STAFF, DR. THONG SAID THEY WERE EMPLOYED ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS BY THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS INITIALLY ONLY FOR A 12-MONTH PERIOD AND LATER EXTENDED FOR SIX MONTHS.
IT WAS CLEARLY STATED IN THE CONTRACT THAT THE IR MONTH-TO- MONTH SERVICE MIGHT BE TERMINATED PROVIDED THAT ONE MONTH'S NOTICE OR SALARY IN LIEU WAS GIVEN.
THONG