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Paramedical Staff

There were 46 student dispensers, 48 student medical laboratory technicians, 38 student physiotherapists and 42 student radiographers undergoing three-year courses of training in the respective fields. During the year 7 student dispensers, 26 student medical laboratory technicians, 12 student physiotherapists and 14 student radiographers passed their final examinations.

Progress on localisation

The Department is one of the most localised Government departments. Overseas recruitment is largely restricted to the areas where there is limited or no local manpower resource available. For example, there was a need to recruit overseas physiotherapiets and occupational therapists. However the Polytechnic will take over the theoretical training with effect from September 1978 in these two disciplines which should boost the local output in 3 yeara' time, and ultimately reduce or eliminate the need to recruit overseas. An increase in the number of Dental Officer posts also meant some overseas recruitment. The setting up of the Hong Kong University Dental School should eliminate the need for overseas Dental Officers in due course.

The other area with limited overseas recruitment was in the Medical and Health Officer grade, as it was difficult or impossible to find suitable local doctors willing to serve in some particular out-posts.

X. MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT

(Table 81)

A White Paper entitled "The Further Development of Medical and Health Services in Hong Kong" published in 1974 provides a blue print for the future development of the services in the next 10 years. Development is reviewed annually. The last review was completed in 1977. A 10-year Medical Development Programme containing proposals for the further development of the services has been prepared.

During the year, the East Kowloon Polyclinic (Stage I) and a child assessment clinic were opened.

Some 1,100 candidates sat for the Licentiate Examination for unregistrable doctors conducted by the Licentiate Committee of the Medical Council of Hong Kong. Of these, 112 candidates passed all three parts of the Examination. Successful candidates are undergoing a period of externship covering 18 months which began in September 1977.

A Central Health Education Unit was being established. The Unit would serve as a co-ordinating and advisory unit working closely with interested departments and voluntary organizations in promoting health education work.

Building work continued during the year on the new 1336-bed Psychiatric Wing of the Frincess Margaret Hospital and the 576-bed Caritas Medical Centre extension. Construction work for the 9-storey MacLehose Dental Centre containing the Dental Therapist Training School and a School Children's Dental Clinic is nearing completion.

The Medical School at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Dental School at the University of Hong Kong will be established by 1980. Planning work has already commenced on the 1400-bed Sha Tin Hospital which will be the regional hospital for the Eastern New Territories and the teaching hospital for the second medical school at CUHK. Work on the construction of the Dental Teaching Clinic, which will provide clinical teaching facilities for the dental students of the Dental School, is expected to commence in 1978.

Commencing from April 1977, six voluntary organizations providing community nursing services are being sssisted financially by the government with a view to evaluating the contribution of this service to the overall medical and health services in Hong Kong.

In May 1977, the Government approved a capital subvention to assist the Hong Kong Heart Foundation and the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis and Thoracic Diseases Association towards the conversion of the Grantham Hospital into a major cardiothoracic centre.

On 27th February, 1978, His Excellency the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, laid the foundation stone for the Fanling Hospital Extension. The project will be carried out in two stages over the next three years. The aim of the extension and improvement is to bring the existing hospital to a district hospital capability.

In October 1977, a White Paper on the Further Development of kehabilitation Services in Hong Kong over the next ten years was published. The objectives and targets listed in the Paper, and the progress of implementation will be reviewed annually.

A Green Paper on the Services for the Elderly was published in 1977. Public comments on the proposals in the Green Paper are being examined. It is envisaged that a White Paper on the future development of the services for the elderly will be prepared in 1978.