ENG-1970 — Page 133

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HEALTH

are developing steadily. Government now maintains 43 clinics for general outpatients, and specialist facilities are available in the major centres of the urban areas; similar specialist facilities are provided in the New Territories by visiting teams from Hong Kong and Kowloon. Mobile dispensaries and floating clinics take medical services to the more remote areas of the New Territories, especially the isolated villages on the eastern and western coasts. Other inaccessible villages are visited by the flying doctor service.

Since the Medical Clinics Ordinance came into effect in January 1964, 441 private clinics have been granted registration, of which 357 were exempted from employing registered doctors. Under the Medical Clinics (Amendment) Ordinance of 1966 the power of the Registrar of Clinics to register clinics with exemption was extended for three years as from January 1967, and all clinics, whether registered or registered with exemption, are required to be re- registered annually. During the year the power of the Registrar to register clinics with exemption was extended for another two years as from January 1970. The Low Cost Medical Care Scheme under which static clinics are set up in Resettlement and Housing Estates continued to operate during the year, and in allocating these premises registered doctors are given priority.

MEDICAL FEES

At government general outpatient clinics there is a nominal charge of $1 a visit, including medicine as well as x-ray examinations, laboratory tests etc. Consultation at a specialist's clinic also costs $1. There are no charges for patients at Tuberculosis, Social Hygiene, Leprosy clinics or for patients suffering from quarantinable diseases. Similarly, no charges are raised at certain remote institutions located in outlying areas or on the floating clinics. The Infant Welfare and Ante-Natal and Post-Natal clinics are also free.

For patients admitted in the general wards of government hospitals the daily maintenance fee ranges from $2 to $6 according to the diet supplied. A limited number of private rooms and small semi-private wards are provided at major hospitals. The charges for these are much higher than those for general class wards, and in addition all treatment is chargeable.