XN000022-1983-03-14 — Page 2

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1983

NEW OPHTHALMIC CENTRE FOR KOWLOON

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THE GOVERNMENT OPHTHALMIC SERVICE WILL HAVE A NEW CENTRE IN KOWLOON PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF FACILITIES AND TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NINTH CONGRESS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, DR THONG SAID THAT AMONG THE MANY NEW FACILITIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES

IN THIS DECADE, THE SETTING UP OF A CENTRALISED OPHTHALMIC CENTRE IN ARGYLE STREET IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.

THE CENTRE WILL PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOMMODATION FOR THE NEW HEADQUARTERS OF THE OPHTHALMIC SERVICE, CLINICAL CONSULTING ROOMS, TREATMENT ROOMS, OPERATING THEATRES, DAY BEDS AND FACILITIES FOR HEALTH EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF OPHTHALMIC STAFF.

DR THONG ALSO GAVE AN OUTLINE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS FOR MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

+OUR MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ENVISAGES THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIVE MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS OF OVER 1 300 BEDS EACH, MORE THAN 20 CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS, ADDITIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL AND THE ELDERLY AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED, HE SAID.

WITHIN THE GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO INCORPORATE THE OPHTHALMIC SERVICE IN NEW CLINICS AND HOSPITALS.

+WHEN_COMPLETED, THE NEW OPHTHALMIC CENTRE WILL PLAY A VERY ACTIVE ROLE IN PROVIDING PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE CARE FOR EYE DISEASES AND ALSO SERVE AS A TRAINING CENTRE FOR THE STAFF IN OPHTHALMOLOGY, SAID DR THONG.

AN OPHTHALMIC UNIT WITH 50 EYE BEDS, OPERATING THEATRES AND CLINIC SERVICE WILL ALSO BE INCORPORATED IN A NEW BLOCK TO BE BUILT AT THE TUNG WAH EASTERN HOSPITAL.

FUTURE PLANS ALSO INCLUDE 23 ADDITIONAL CONSULTING ROOMS FOR EYE CLINIC SERVICES AND 150 ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL BEDS FOR EYE PATIENTS.

DR THONG SAID THAT APART FROM IMPROVING THE PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE ASPECT OF THE EYE SERVICE, THE GOVERNMENT IN RECENT YEARS, HAS ALSO CONSIDERED THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY LOCALLY TO SAFEGUARD THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY,

+IN THIS REGARD, LEGISLATIVE CONTROL IS BEING DRAFTED FOR THE PRACTISING OPTOMETRISTS AND THE TRAINING OF OPTOMETRISTS IS BEING PLANNED TOGETHER WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATIVE CONTROL,+ HE SAID.

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