ENG-1981 — Page 142

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HEALTH

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. This daily maintenance charge may also be waived in genuine hardship cases. A limited number of private beds 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 dual arrangement with various organisations in the United Kingdom and Australasia. During 1981 more than 110 doctors went overseas for postgraduate training on government or other scholarships.

The University of Hong Kong produces about 150 medical doctors a year. Another medical school, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, admitted its first intake of 60 students in September who are expected to graduate by 1986.

An institute of Medical and Health Care at the Hong Kong Polytechnic provides training for paramedical staff including radiographers, physiotherapist, occupational therapists and medical and dental laboratory technicians. In-service training and post-qualification training courses are also available for para-medical staff within the Civil Service.

There are three government hospital schools of nursing for general registered nurses. A fourth will be established in the new Prince of Wales Hospital in 1983, and a fifth school in the Tuen Mun Hospital in 1987. Other approved nurse training schools are attached to government assisted or private hospitals.

Two psychiatric nurse training schools are in the Castle Peak Hospital and the new Kwai Chung Hospital. There is also an enrolled nurse training school in the Kowloon Hospital with an output of about 120 nurses a year and another is planned for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The government also runs post-qualified in-service training courses for registered and enrolled nurses in midwifery, health nursing and community nursing. Selected staff nurses are also send overseas for special training in health education, occupational health and psychiatric nursing.

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.

The examination of pharmaceutical products purchased or made by government for use in its hospitals and clinics is carried out at the Government Laboratory. Products submitted for registration under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations are also closely examined and this provides a greater degree of protection for the consumer.

The laboratory has a statutory responsibility for the physical and chemical testing of food. This work, which stems from the activities of the Hygiene Division of the Urban