XN000022-1978-12-31 — Page 2

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1978

REVIEW OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES 1978

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THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED PHARMACY AND POISONS REGULATIONS TO SAFEGUARD THE PUBLIC AGAINST COUNTERFEIT AND SUB-STANDARD MEDICINE, THE SETTING UP OF A CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT TO PLAN AND COORDINATE HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES AND THE OPENING OF THE FIRST DENTAL THERAPIST TRAINING SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTED A YEAR OF RAPID EXPANSION FOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.

ONE OF THE IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE PAST YEAR THAT MAY HAVE WIDE-RANGING EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY WAS THE COMING INTO FORCE OF THE PHARMACY AND POISONS REGULATIONS ON JULY 1, AIMED AT CONTROLLING THE SALE AND MANUFACTURE OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS.

A FORENSIC PHARMACY SECTION WAS SET UP WITHIN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE THAT THE REGULATIONS ARE PROPERLY ENFORCED.

THIS SECTION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICING SOME 2,500 SHOPS SELLING ORDINARY MEDICINES AND ANOTHER 2,200 SHOPS REGISTERED AS LISTED SELLERS OF PART I POISONS.

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT DURING THE YEAR WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT TO PLAN AND COORDINATE ALL HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES BOTH WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER PROFESSIONAL BODIES OR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THE UNIT HAS MADE GREAT EFFORTS IN PROMOTING HEALTH CARE THROUGH SUCH CAMPAIGNS AS DOWN WITH HYPERTENSION, EYE CARE, JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEAF AND CHILD

CARE.

THE PAST YEAR ALSO SAW THE OPENING OF HONG KONG'S FIRST DENTAL THERAPIST TRAINING SCHOOL AT THE NEW MACLEHOSE DENTAL CENTRE IN MORRISON HILL.

THE TRAINING COURSE IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES TO PROMOTE DENTAL HYGIENE AND PROPER DENTAL CARE TO THE COMMUNITY.

UNDER THE TRAINING SCHEME, 33 DENTAL THERAPISTS ARE UNDERGOING A THREE-YEAR TRAINING COURSE AND FIVE DENTAL HYGIENISTS WILL TAKE PART IN A ONE-YEAR TRAINING COURSE.

AFTER TRAINING, THE GRADUATES WILL BE ASSIGNED TO A SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SCHEME TO BE LAUNCHED IN 1980, WHICH WILL PROVIDE SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH REGULAR DENTAL EXAMINATIONS AND SIMPLE CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT, INCLUDING ORTHONDONTIC TREATMENT.

A COMPREHENSIVE OBSERVATION SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN APRIL TO PROVIDE REGULAR CHECK-UPS TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO THE AGE OF FIVE.

THE SCHEME IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CONGENITAL OR ACQUIRED ANOMALIES OF A CHILD ARE DISCOVERED, AND REMEDIAL ACTIONS TAKEN AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. UNDER THE SCHEME, CHILDREN FOUND TO HAVE CONGENITAL DEFORMITIES ARE REFERRED TO VARIOUS SPECIALISTS FOR ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT. THE RESPONSE SO FAR HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING.