ENG-1977 — Page 133

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HEALTH

At the end of 1977, 405 clinics were registered under the Medical Clinics Ordinance. Of these, 84 clinics were under the control of a registered medical practitioner, as required under the ordinance, and 321 clinics were exempted from this requirement. The Low Cost Medical Care Scheme, in which clinics are set up in public housing estates by registered medical practitioners, continues to operate.

Family Health

Since an integration programme that began in October, 1973, the Family Health Service has further expanded. It now provides a comprehensive health care programme for women of child-bearing age and for children from birth to five years. There are 38 maternal and child health centres and 41 family planning centres on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories.

The government-subvented Family Planning Association of Hong Kong runs a further 26 clinics that provide vasectomy, female sterilisation and sub-fertility services as well as advice to youth. The association, a non-profit-making voluntary agency, has three main centres - on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Terri- tories. In addition to running clinics, it conducts educational programmes for schools and community agencies; runs training programmes for professionals, such as mid- wives, teachers and social workers; organises information and publicity campaigns; and carries out clinical trials and surveys.

Motivational work also is done in marriage and birth registries and community centres, and among the floating and rural populations. Special efforts were made during the year to promote male responsibility in family planning and to provide more services for youth.

School Health

The School Medical Service is operated by the School Medical Service Board, an independent body incorporated by ordinance. Participation is voluntary and, for a contribution of $5 a year, schoolchildren can receive free medical treatment. The government contributes $20 a year for each pupil and also covers the board's adminis- trative expenses.

The School Health Service, a government responsibility, deals with the environ- mental health and sanitation of school premises and the control of communicable diseases. School health inspectors undertake routine school inspections while health officers immunise schoolchildren against infectious childhood diseases.

Mental Health

The Mental Health Service provides full-time care for all types of psychiatric patients at the 1,921-bed Castle Peak Hospital. A further 300 beds are available at the Lai Chi Kok Hospital for long-term patients. The psychiatric unit in Kowloon Hospital and the university psychiatric unit in Queen Mary Hospital provide a comprehensive psychiatric service in a general hospital setting. The psychiatric wing now being built at Princess Margaret Hospital is expected to be completed in 1980.

The concept of treating patients at day centres has proved successful. The three day centres - at the Hong Kong Psychiatric Centre, the psychiatric unit in Kowloon Hospital and the Yau Ma Tei Psychiatric Centre - supplement hospital inpatient