HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
28 June 1989
香港立法局——————————一九八九年六月二十八日
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Advisory Committee months ago for the formation of a working party to study primary health care. Yet, Sir, it remains to be seen when positive steps will be forthcoming. The Administration must realize the importance of primary health care and the concept of family medicine which has been shown worldwide to be more cost-effective in the long run.
The improvement of primary health care in Hong Kong should be the target for a better school medical services for the children of tomorrow.
I would like to say a few words on the school dental care.
School dental care
A nice set of teeth is as important as a healthy body. The current school dental care which provides regular check up, routine care, preventive services and a limited orthodontic treatment for all primary school children leaves much to be desired.
There needs to be a consideration of extending such care to pre-primary children for it is most essential that at the formative stage of dental development, proper guidance must be instilled to give everlasting results. At the same time, the need to provide similar services to secondary school children should also be seriously addressed. All these will not only help to provide the care but also in promoting a proper dental health education much needed in this community.
Coupling with a possible extension of school dental services must be a review of the quality of services. This is currently provided by dental therapists. In the light of an imminent oversupply of dentists, it would be in the interest of school children for the Administration to consider a better ratio between supervising dentists and dental therapists for the provision of an even better dental care.
Death due to accidents
Sir, I could not leave without mentioning that the leading cause of death for the age group between one and 15 is from accidents and poisoning. More must be done to remedy such unfortunate mishap.
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