CO129-531-13 Proposed reorganization of the medical and sanitary services 18-11-1930 - 7-7-1933 — Page 54

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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The following Chart of the divisions at the central office shows how complete is the scheme of control :-

Director of the Public Health Service.

Chief Administrator or lay head of the Office (Secretary)

Division for Archives and records.

3

-

J

13

Low.

Personnel grading, promotion and detailing for duty and

leave.

Accountancy.

Inspection of Urban and Rural Districts.

Epiditionary service.

Sanitary Engineering

Housing.

Drainage and Sewers. Water Supplies.

Quarantine and Epidemic Diseases.

Medical Research and Pathological Investigation.

Pasteur Institutes, Vaccine and Sera Institutes.

1

Medical Institutions

Leper Colonies. Hospitals.

Sanatoria.

Lunatic Asylums.

Pharmacy biological Chemistry.

Medical Schools.

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J. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEALTH AND MEDICAL SYSTEM OF THE FEDERATED MALAY STATES.

The History of the Medical and Sanitary Services of the Federated Malay States shows that until 1907 there was a separate Medical Department for each of the four States which form the Federation There were for each a State Surgeon and a number of Medical Officers. There was no separation of the Health from Medical Services, and the duties pertaining to both sides were performed by the Medical Officer who had no special qualification in Public Health.

In 1902 was established the Institute for Medical Research to enquire into the cause of Beri beri and other diseases whose enuse and distribution were obscure. This Institute which started with one qualified worker gradually developed until now it has a staff of thirteen European Officers of which eight are medical men,

four are chemists, and one is an entomologist

In 1907 a Federal Health Officer was appointed whose duties were principally advisary. In 1910 there were two Health Officers whose duties were partly ad- visary, partly executive. In 1911 was formed the Health Branch of the Medical De- partiment with a Senior Health Officer and four Health Officers. The number of Health Officers gradually grew until the Health Branch now consists of 40 European Health Officers. 3 Senior Health Officer and 1 Chief Health Officer.

The Medical side has a European personnel of 62.

There is a Veterinary Branch with four Veterinary Surgeons.

Over the whole is the Principal Medical Officer.

All Health Officers, Medical Officers and Research Officers are required to co- operate where necessary with the District Officers but in no case is an officer of the Medical Department under the orders of a layman other than the British Resident of a State or the Chief Secretary.

The Health Branch deals with health work under the Sanitary Boards Enact- ment, the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Enactment, the Labour Code. the Healths Board Enactment, the Sale of Food and Drugs Enactment, with Anti-malaria work, with School Hygiene, with Maternity and Child Welfare, and with Propaganda.

The Chief Health Officer is Registrar General of Births and deaths, and Supt. of Vaccination. The State or Senior Health Officers are Registrars each in his own State. The District Health Officers and the Police are Deputy Registrars.

Government has assumed responsibility for the Medical care of all the indigent sick of whatever nationality and whether or not they be British subjects.

There are 47 Hospitals-a Mental Hospital two Leper Settlements, two Radi- ological Institutes.

On the Health side there are infectious disease hospitals in every district- there is a quarantine station at Port Swettenham with accommodation for 7,000 per-

sons

On the investigation side there is the Institution of Medical Research at Kuala Lumpur--which is thoroughly up-to-date and which includes a Malaria Bureau.

In a few months there will be a second institute.

Urban sanitation is carried out under the Sanitary Board of which the Health Officer is both a member and an adviser. The Sanitary Department works under the direct supervision of the Health Officer.

The Board is responsible for policy in carrying out the Sanitary Regulations, but the Health Officer is responsible to the Board for detail in carrying out that policy.

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