TNAG-1855-FCO40-2630-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 112

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL —15 March 1989 香港立法局——————————一九八九年三月十五日

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As the health authority and the body responsible for the provision of a wide range of medical and health services in hosptials and clinics, the Director of Medical and Health Services and the Medical and Health Department are delegated with statutory responsibilities and authorities under a large number of Ordinances and Regulations. Consequent upon the dissolution of the Medical and Health Department and the creation of the two new departments, it is necessary to re-allocate these powers to either the future Director of Health or Director of Hospital Services as appropriate. Accordingly this resolution is tabled to seek Members' approval to effect the transfer of functions from the Director of Medical and Health Services to the appropriate new authorities as provided under section 54A of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

DR. IP Sir, I object in principle to the proposed reorganization of the Medical and Health Department into the Department of Hospital Services and the Department of Health since medical and health services cannot in reality be divided. It is in all terms part and parcel of the same thing. The medical care of patients includes both prevention and treatment. The latter can academically be further divided into primary, secondary and tertiary care. However the distinction between them is fine. One form of service moulds into another and it is difficult to say when one begins and when one ends.

To quote some examples. This resolution has grouped the relevant statutory functions under three schedules, one to be transferred to the Director of Health Services, one to the Director of Hospital Services, and one to both the Director of Health and the Director of Hospital Services! So in essence Government admits that at least in six instances the functions cannot be so divided. This is not all, there are two Ordinances in which parts are fragmented between different departments. Furthermore, the Mental Health Ordinance and Mental Health Regulations, to do with health as their titles imply will be under the hospital services! Yet the majority of mentally-ill patients are in the community and not in hospitals.

There is more to it. For example, Ordinances involving drugs, antibiotics, pharmacy, poison, radiation, all of which affecting hospital services, will be under the Department of Health. Ordinances governing doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives, most of whom are working in hospitals, will be under the Health Services Department.