The Radiobiology Division is engaged in Cancer and Radiobiological Research. Together with the Radiation Therapy and Oncology and Physics Divisions, they play an essential role in the training of radiotherapists and oncologists.
The Institute operates 4 in-service training courses : one for radiologists, one for radiotherapists and oncologists for the fellowship examinations of the Royal College of Radiologists in the United Kingdom, one for therapy radiographers for the diploma examination of the College of Radiographers in London, and one for Mould Laboratory Technicians for the certificate examination in Mould Laboratory Technology of the Medical and Health Department.
The Radiation Health Unit working under the direction of the Radiation Board undertakes regular visits to medical, commercial and industrial premises to inspect the working condition of radiation workers. Radiation licences are issued to the proprietors in accordance with the Radiation Ordinance and Regulations. In 1984 some 1 282 licences were issued. Personnel radiation monitoring service is offered to some 2 124 radiation workers in the field and to improve the efficiency of the process. A thermoluminescent dosemetry system was adopted in the year to replace the previous film dosemetry system.
Pharmaceutical Service
The Pharmaceutical Service is made up of two main divisions.
The first is the Hospital and Clinic Pharmacy Service which has a staff of about 500 and is responsible for the dispensary service and the supply of drugs and other pharmaceutical items to all Government hospitals and clinics. The second division is the Pharmacy Law Enforcement Services which has a staff of 17 pharmacists and 15 general grade officers.
In the Hospital and Clinic Pharmacy Service, the continual expansion of the medical services and the introduction of new and sophisticated drugs had resulted in higher drug expenditure. The total amounted to about $142 million as compared with the expenditure of $114 million for the previous year, In view of the high level of expenditure, the budgetary control system had been improved and various cost control methods were being studied in an attempt to make the service more cost effective. Plans were also in hand for computerizing the pharmaceutical inventory control system.
The Law
On the pharmacy law enforcement side, the Inspection and Licensing Unit kept in check the illegal sale and distribution of poisons and antibiotics. There were a total of 115 prosecutions in the year. Enforcement Section had been increasingly called upon by other law enforcement and social service agencies to give lectures on the classification, identification, control and abuse potential of pharmaceutical products.
Examinations for the registration of pharmacists were held as usual in June and December, to enable pharmacy graduates from non- commonwealth countries to practise in Hong Kong. A total of 73 candidates sat and 16 passed.
VII
Medical Development
More
Several major medical projects were completed in 1984, the most important being the $826 million Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin, major projects are in the pipeline as part of a wide-ranging development programme to cope with the demands of a steadily growing population. These demands have placed considerable pressure on existing hospitals, clinics and other facilities, with attendances and admissions reaching unprecedentedly high levels.
The first two phases of the 1 446-bed Prince of Wales Hospital were commissioned in the year, marking an important step in the regionalisation of medical and health services. The new hospital, which is also the teaching hospital for the Medical Faculty of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, becomes the regional hospital for the eastern New Territories.
The first two phases provide 799 beds with a wide range of specialties. The other 647 Leds will be put into use in two further phases and the hospital is expected to be fully operational during 1985.
www
The Li Ka Shing Specialist Clinic incorporated into the Prince of Wales Hospital building was officially opened by the Governor, Sir Edward Youde, in June 1984. It is the first major polyclinic in the eastern New Territories and provides essential specialist out-patient support for the Prince of Wales Hospital.
The Medical and Health Department's development programme in the next decade envisage the construction of four major Government hospitals. This includes the 1 600-bed hospital in Tuen Mun, a 1 500-bed hospital at Chai Wan and two 1 400-bed hospitals in East Kowloon and Tai Pa. The development plan also includes the provision of extension blocks to the three existing regional hospitals, the Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Princess Margaret Hospital.
Other projects in the pipeline include further extension to the Caritas Medical Centre, United Christian Hospital, Yan Chai Hospital and Pok Oi Hospital and the redevelopment of the Ruttonjee Sanatorium.
Also completed during the year was the $73.6 million MacLehose Rehabilitation Centre at Sandy Bay on Hong Kong Island, a subrented institution run by the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation. The 11-storey building has 150 beds for patients who have suffered major physical injury or impairment and require an intensive programme of treatment and rehabilitation.
When fully operational, the centre will provide services ranging from physiotherapy and occupational therapy to speech therapy and clinical psychology. The centre will provide an out-patient service for former patients who require follow-up treatment and also serve as a clinical training institute in the rehabilitation field. In addition, space has been allocated at the centre for a rehabus depot and a technical and resource
centre.
Other major clinics opened during the year included the Yung Fung Shee Memorial Centre in Kwun Tong which has a wide range facilities including family health, chest, social hygiene, radiology and laboratory services, as well as day places in geriatrics and psychiatry. There are also physiotherapy and occupational therapy services as well as a health education centre.
14
15
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.