XN000022-1978-11-05 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1978

STEADY GROWTH IN SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE

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HONG KONG'S SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE HAS GROWN STEADILY DURING THE PAST FEW DECADES AND NOW IT HAS OVER 110,000 PUPILS UNDER ITS CARE.

THE FIRST PROPERLY INTEGRATED SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE WAS INTRODUCED IN 1925 WITH A FULL-TIME MEDICAL OFFICER. AND A SMALL NUMBER OF STAFF WORKING UNDER THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.

THE TEAM THEN PROVIDED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF SCHOOL CHILDREN IN 31 SCHOOLS, CONVENTS AND INSTITUTIONS.

SIX YEARS LATER, THE SERVICE WAS PLACED UNDER THE MEDICAL AUTHORITY AND MEDICAL OFFICERS WERE GAZETTED AS INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS UNDER THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE, EVER SINCE, THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE HAS BEEN THE CONCERN OF BOTH THE EDUCATION AND MEDICAL AUTHORITIES.

STEADY PROGRESS CONTINUED TO BE MADE AS ADDITIONAL STAFF BECAME AVAILABLE, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT PRESSED AHEAD WITH PLANNING CLINICS IN SCHOOLS.

AFTER THE PACIFIC WAR THE GOVERNMENT RESTORED ITS WHOLLY OPERATED SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE, GRADUALLY EXTENDING ELIGIBILITY TO SUBSIDISED SCHOOLS AND FINALLY TO PRIVATE ONES.

THE SCHEME SUFFERED ITS SETBACK IN 1955 WHEN THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO SUSPEND THE SCHEME DUE TO OTHER COMMITMENTS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE HEAVY INFLUX OF REFUGEES WITH CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE AND AN UNUSUALLY HIGH BIRTH RATE SINCE THE END OF THE WAR.

THE ENROLMENT IN THE SERVICE AT THAT TIME WAS WELL OVER 50,000 PUPILS AS AGAINST THE SCHOOL POPULATION OF ABOUT 250,000. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT TO KEEP PACE WITH THE DEMAND AN ADDITIONAL 75 MEDICAL OFFICERS AND A SAME NUMBER OF DENTISTS WITH SUPPORTING STAFF AND FACILITIES WOULD BE NEEDED.

IT WAS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT THE GOVERNMENT RELUCTANTLY FROZE THE SCHEME AND COMMISSIONED A STUDY OF ALTERNATIVE PLANS.

IN 1956 A WORKING PARTY WAS APPOINTED TO EXAMINE EXISTING FACILITIES IN THE LIGHT OF A PROPOSED SCHEME INVOLVING PRIVATE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS. FOR VARIOUS REASONS THE GOVERNMENT WAS UNABLE TO ACCEPT ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 1956 WORKING PARTY.

AFTER TURTHER.....