XN000022-1982-06-28 — Page 5

MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1982

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE STRESSED

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COMMUNITY MEDICINE IS LITTLE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF ITS WORK BUT THE CONTRIBUTION IT MAKES TO THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY IS ENORMOUS, THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DR P.K. WONG SAID WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE ROTARY CLUB OF NEW TERRITORIES THIS (MONDAY) EVENING.

+WHEREAS A COMPUTERISED SCANNER COSTING $7 MILLION CAN HELP TO FACILITATE DIAGNOSIS AND SAVE A FEW LIVES, THE SAME AMOUNT OF FUNDS SPENT ON COMMUNITY MEDICINE COULD SAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND PREVENT A LOT OF SUFFERINGS, HE SAID.

DR WONG, WHO IS HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT'S NEW TERRITORIES REGIONAL OFFICE, POINTED OUT THAT THE CLINICIAN TREATS ONLY ONE PATIENT AT A TIME WHILE THE COMMUNITY PHYSICIAN DEALS WITH A MASS OF PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME.

+THE CLINICIAN ONLY TREATS WHEN A PATIENT GOES INTO HIS SURGERY OR INTO THE HOSPITAL BUT IN COMMUNITY MEDICINE THE DOCTOR GOES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO SEARCH FOR PATIENTS, HE ADDED.

DR WONG SAID THERE ARE THREE MAIN AREAS OF WORK IN COMMUNITY MEDICINE, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE PREVENTION OF DISEASES THROUGH

IMMUNISATION, CASE INVESTIGATION AND TRACING OF CARRIERS.

PROMOTION OF HEALTH IS THE SECOND AREA OF WORK WHICH THE COMMUNITY PHYSICIAN PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE, SAID DR WONG.

THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY PHYSICIAN, HE SAID, IS TO IMPART KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY OR INDIVIDUAL TO ENABLE HIM TO JUDGE AND DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY.

HEALTH EDUCATION TO PROMOTE BETTER HEALTH AMONG THE PUBLIC IS USUALLY CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA AS WELL AS IN THE DOCTOR'S CONSULTATION ROOM, IN THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRE AND IN THE PATIENT'S HOME, HE ADDED.

DR WONG SAID THAT THE THIRD AREA OF WORK IN COMMUNITY MEDICINE IS THE DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES.

IN THIS RESPECT, THE COMMUNITY PHYSICIAN HAS TO ADVISE ON THE PRIORITY OF HEALTH MEASURES, PLAN HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CENTRES, MONITOR THE UTILISATION OF FACILITIES AND ASSESS THE NEED FOR SERVICES, HE SAID,