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(c) Thirdly, intersectoral collaboration between the public and private sectors should be encouraged. In Hong Kong, there is a very vigorous private health sector providing choice and quality of service to our citizens. In primary healthcare as in other aspects of the healthcare services, Government should play a co-ordinating and enabling role in promoting collaboration between public and private sectors in providing a comprehensive network of health care services for the whole community;
(d)
Fourthly, the success of any healthcare programme depends to a great extent on participation of the community and the individual. Every person has a role to play in ensuring his own health and in promoting the health of others. What the Government can do is to raise the awareness of the importance of good health through community education and disease prevention programmes. But at the end of the day, the role of each individual and the family in healthcare and promotion is extremely important.
Elderly as a target group
These guiding principles of primary healthcare have been applied at the policy level, the organisational level and at the operational levels. In the four years following the Report on Primary Health Care, we have not only initiated new ventures targeting the elderly as a group, but have also encouraged a realisation of partnership and the team approach in healthcare for this vulnerable group.
At the policy level, we have recently put in place a new division called the Elderly Service Division within the Health and Welfare Branch comprising staff of different disciplines including health and welfare. Among other things, this Division will co-ordinate and oversee policy matters related to health services for elderly people, it will introduce a multi- disciplinary approach to this important work. But to succeed, we need everyone's support.
At the organisational level, the Department of Health continues to take the lead in collaborating with other healthcare providers to care for elderly people in the community through its network of general out-patient clinics and the new elderly health centres. At the same time, the Hospital Authority, in its effort to initiate a seamless healthcare system for all, including elderly people, has extended its services outside the boundaries of the hospital so as to reach out and mobilise community support for elderly people at risk of hospitalisation. New initiatives include the community-based geriatric assessment teams and clinics as well as community psycho-geriatric teams to provide a more structured approach in the provision of outreach medical services and support for welfare institutions.
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