ENG-1977 — Page 123

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Wide range of facilities

The Medical and Health Department, together with many medical practitioners. and hospitals in the private sector, provides the people of Hong Kong with a com- prehensive medical service. There are 44 hospitals, of which 12 are run by the government, 21 by government-subvented voluntary organisations and 11 by private groups. In all, they provide more than 19,000 beds or 4.3 for every thousand of the population. A further 4,600 beds will become available in the next seven years. with the building of two more hospitals - at Sha Tin and at Tuen Mun - the addition of a psychiatric wing to Princess Margaret Hospital and the completion of other projects. Patients in general wards of government hospitals are charged $5 a day for any form of treatment, but this payment can be waived in cases of hard- ship. In addition to hospital services, the Medical and Health Department runs 51 outpatient clinics and maintains services covering family, school, industrial and port health, and the control of epidemic and endemic diseases. During 1977, the fight against drug abuse was further streng- thened with the opening of the world's first outpatient acupuncture and electro- stimulation centre for the treatment of heroin, opium and morphine addicts. The centre augments outpatient methadone de- toxification and maintenance programmes run by the Medical and Health Depart- ment to treat drug addicts.

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Previous page: A fish-eye lens captures an unusual view of an ultra-modern operating theatre in a government hospital. Left (from top): A floating clinic' brings medical treatment to people

to people living in outlying islands; Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong's largest medical institution; Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force helicopters fly government doctors to remote communi-

ties.