XN000022-1982-11-11 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1982

DURING THE SAME PERIOD, NO LESS THAN TEN CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS WERE COMPLETED. THIS, TOGETHER WITH THE REPROVISIONING OF THREE CLINICS, INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CONSULTING ROOMS BY 77, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 30 PER CENT.

A LARGE NUMBER OF FACILITIES AND SERVICES WERE ESTABLISHED AND EXPANDED TO PROVIDE A BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH CURATIVE AND PREVENTIVE HEALTH FACILITIES. THESE INCLUDE HEALTH EDUCATION, FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES, INCORPORATING MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES AND FAMILY PLANNING, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES, COMMUNITY NURSING, SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICES AND CHILD ASSESSMENT.

THE OVERALL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST DECADE HAS INCREASED FROM 13 475 TO 20 534 OR 52 PER CENT MORE OVER THE ESTABLISHMENT FIGURE IN 1973, TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE STAFFING COMPLEMENTS TO MATCH DEVELOPMENTS.

DURING THIS PERIOD, THE ESTABLISHMENT STRENGTH OF DOCTORS INCREASED BY 59 PER CENT FROM 826 TO 1 310, NURSES BY 67 PER CENT FROM 4 968 TO 8 294, PARA-MEDICALS BY 61 PER CENT FROM 896 TO 1 440, AND OTHER STAFF BY 40 PER CENT FROM 6 785 TO 9 490.

+THAT WE ARE PROCEEDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IS BORNE OUT BY THE FACT THAT OUR HEALTH INDICES ARE COMPARABLE TO SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD AS MENTIONED BY YOUR EXCELLENCY IN YOUR ADDRESS TO THIS COUNCIL, DR THONG SAID.

IN REPLY TO A SUGGESTION BY THE HON PETER WONG THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REVIEW THE PRIORITIES OF VARIOUS PROGRAMMES IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, DR THONG SAID THIS IS PRECISELY THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH REVIEWS PROJECTS AND THEIR PRIORITIES ANNUALLY.

DR THONG SAID THERE WAS CONSTANT AND SEVERE COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES AMONG PROJECTS IN THE MEDICAL PLAN.

IN REPLY TO A SUGGESTION BY DR HENRIETTA IP THAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE OBSTETRICAL AND NEONATAL SERVICES SO THAT MORBIDITY DURING THE PERINATAL PERIOD COULD BE REDUCED, DR THONG SAID THE PERINATAL MORTALITY RATE IN HONG KONG FOR LAST YEAR WAS 10.7 PER 1 000 TOTAL BIRTHS, WHICH IS AMONG THE LOWEST IN THE WORLD.

/ON THE