X1000306-1982-83_Part01 — Page 10

A thermoluminescence dosimetry system will be commissioned in the later part of 1983 to replace the existing film dosimetry system.

Pharmaceutical Service

The Pharmaceutical Service is made up of two main divisions; the Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy Service responsible for the dispensing of medicines in all Government hospitals and clinics, and the Pharmacy Law Enforcement Services with 17 pharmacists and 12 clerks. The division supervises and enforces laws pertaining to the control of dangerous drugs, poisons and antibiotics as governed by the respective ordinances. Pharmacy law enforcement measures have been intensified to enable the identification and prosecution of those involved in the illegal production and transaction of poisons and antibiotics. The highlight of the year was the crack-down on Chinese proprietary medicines containing harmful poison and drugs. A total of 17 million dollars worth of adulterated Chinese medicine in nine different brands was seized.

VII Medical Development

Some 15 medical projects including extensions or improvements to existing hospitals and clinics, were completed during the year as part of the vigorous medical and health development programme for the 1980s.

Yet despite this progress, a heavy strain was placed on existing services to meet the demands created by an increasing population, compounded by limited manpower and resources. The pressure of work was felt on all fronts as attendance figures at the casualty departments of major Government hospitals and clinics, as well as hospital admissions, reached unprecedented levels in 1982.

Within the expansion programme, the highlight of the year was the opening of the Prince of Wales Hospital in November by HRH the Duchess of Kent. Located in Sha Tin, the 1,400-bed regional hospital for the Eastern New Territories will serve as a teaching hospital for the medical school at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and will provide much needed treatment facilities for the growing new town. The hospital is to become operational in phases, starting in early 1984. Other major projects completed were the Ngau Tau Kok Clinic, providing necessary out-patient and specialist services in a densely-populated area, and the Yan Oi Polyclinic in Tuen Mun.

The school children dental clinic in Argyle Street was operational in the early part of the year, further strengthening the school dental care service in providing regular dental treatment to primary school children in the area.

Overall, the Medical and Health Department's development plan for the decade includes the construction of five major Government hospitals, and aims for the completion of one hospital every two years. In addition to the Prince of Wales Hospital, a 1,600-bed hospital for Tuen Mun new town and three other hospitals, in East Kowloon, Chai Wan and Tai Po, each accommodating 1,400 beds, are under construction or being planned. As well as providing new hospitals, extension blocks are to be built at three existing Government hospitals, namely Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital. Under the development programme, some 20 general clinics and polyclinics are due for completion during the decade.

Apart from these Government projects, subvented and private organizations do also have an important complementary role to play in the provision of medical care for the community. Projects in the pipeline include further extension to Yan Chai Hospital, Pok Oi Hospital and redevelopment of the Ruttonjee Sanatorium into a 430-bed general hospital. Furthermore, three new private hospitals are in the planning stage with a bed capacity ranging from 200 to 600 each.

VIII Training

In support of this ambitious medical development programme, additional training facilities are being developed for the training of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.

Apart from the University of Hong Kong which produces 150 doctors a year,

the medical school in the Chinese University of Hong Kong has commenced its first intake of 60 students since September 1981. Opportunities are available for doctors to sit for higher professional examinations in Hong Kong by dual arrangement with various examination bodies in the United Kingdom and Australia. During 1982, over 100 doctors were sent overseas for post-graduate training on Government or other scholarships.

An institute of medical and health care at the Hong Kong Polytechnic provides training for paramedical staff including radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and medical laboratory technicians. In-service training and post-qualification training courses are also available for paramedical staff within the civil service.

Training for general registered nurses is available in Government, Government-assisted and private hospitals. In 1983, 8 such training schools were in operation with an average annual capacity of 1,235. A further 3 nurse training schools providing over 400 additional training posts are planned for the coming decade. Over the same period, the training capacity for general enrolled nurses will increase from 600 to about 850.

There are three Government hospital schools of nursing for general registered nurses. A fourth will be established in the new Prince of Wales Hospital in 1983 and a fifth school in the Tuen Mun Hospital in 1987. Other approved nurse training schools are attached to Government-assisted and private hospitals.

Psychiatric nurses are mainly employed and trained in the Government sector, At present there is only one training school for psychiatric registered nurses at Kwai Chung Hospital with an annual capacity of 120. Two additional psychiatric nurse training schools are being planned with a further capacity of about 65 students by 1987. Psychiatric enrolled nurses are being trained in Castle Peak Hospital with an average annual intake capacity of 60 students, increasing to 80 by 1986.

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