ENG-1979 — Page 129

84

HEALTH

hospitalisation care, rehabilitation assistance and advises patients and their families on diet, rest, prevention of accidents, bed sores and deformity.

Medical Fees

The charge for a consultation at a government clinic was raised from $1 (which was introduced in 1950) to $2 in 1979. This fee includes medicine as well as X-ray examinations and laboratory tests. If a patient requires a specialist's opinion, he is referred to a polyclinic for consultation which also costs him $2 a visit. This charge is waived if people genuinely are unable to afford it. Free services continue to be offered at maternal and child health centres, tuberculosis and chest clinics, casualty departments, floating clinics and through the 'flying doctor' service.

Patients in the general wards of government hospitals are charged $5 a day for diet, X-ray examinations, laboratory tests, drugs, surgery, and any other forms of special treatment required. Again this daily maintenance charge may be waived if necessary. A limited number of private rooms are provided at major hospitals. The maintenance charges for these are much higher and additional charges are made for treatment procedures.

Training

Graduates of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong receive Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees that have been recognised by the General Medical Council of Great Britain since 1911. Both the government and the university maintain a post-graduate training programme. Opportunities are available for doctors to sit for higher professional examinations in Hong Kong, by arrangement with various organisations in the United Kingdom and Australasia.

The University of Hong Kong produces about 150 doctors a year. A further 100 a year will eventually graduate from Hong Kong's second medical school, to be established at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1980.

A dental scholarship scheme enables a number of students from Hong Kong to study dentistry overseas. However, from 1980, dentists will be trained at the dental school to be set up at the University of Hong Kong.

An Institute of Medical and Health Care has been established at the Hong Kong Poly- technic to provide training for paramedical staff. The four courses set up in October, 1978, were radiography, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and medical laboratory science.

There are three government hospital schools of nursing for registered nurses. Two are for general nursing and one is for psychiatric nursing. Other approved nurse-training schools are attached to government-assisted or private hospitals. The government also runs courses for training enrolled nurses in general nursing and psychiatric nursing, and a one-year course in obstetric nursing for registered nurses. Two other nurse-training schools have been recommended for Princess Margaret Hospital and Sha Tin Hospital.

The government conducts a continuous post-graduate overseas training programme for qualified nurses as well as in-service training in various fields. It also runs training courses for student health visitors and nurses engaged in public health work.

Government Laboratory

The Government Laboratory is an independent agency providing practical and advisory services to government departments and the private sector in the field of applied chemistry and related scientific disciplines. Its work covers a wide range of activities, including many health-related services.