ENG-1987 — Page 172

140

HEALTH

The government and the two universities maintain a comprehensive post-graduate training programme for doctors, providing opportunities for doctors to receive training overseas, sit for higher professional examinations, attain higher qualifications, and attend professional conferences, seminars and workshops. In 1987, about 140 doctors went overseas for further training under government sponsorship, or with the help of scholarships.

Under the licentiate scheme, 42 externally trained doctors passed the local licentiate examination in 1987.

The Prince Philip Dental Hospital produced 67 dentists in 1987. The training of dental therapists is provided at the Tang Shiu Kin Dental Therapists Training School.

The basic training for general registered nurses is conducted at government, government- assisted and private hospitals. There are now eight such training schools with an average annual training capacity of about 1 070 places. Three more student-nurse training schools and one more pupil-nurse training school are planned over the next decade. The annual training capacity is to be increased from 1070 to 1 540 for general registered nurses and from 550 to 670 for general enrolled nurses.

The training of registered psychiatric nurses is conducted at the Kwai Chung Hospital and Castle Peak Hospital, and of psychiatric enrolled nurses at Castle Peak Hospital. The average in-take capacity for psychiatric registered nurses and enrolled nurses is 160 and 60 respectively. Three more training schools for psychiatric nurses have been planned for the coming decade to meet the steady demand on the Mental Health Service.

The need for continued training and education for nurses is recognised. The post-basic school of the Nurse Training Unit provides post-registration courses in midwifery, health nursing and community health nursing on a regular basis.

The Institute of Medical and Health Care at the Hong Kong Polytechnic provides training for para-medical and para-dental staff, including radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical laboratory technicians, dental technicians and dental surgery assistants. There are opportunities for overseas training in specialised areas for nursing, para-medical and para-dental staff. The Shatin Technical Institute of the Technical Education and Industrial Training Department provides training for dispensers which is complemented by in-service departmental training. There is also in-service training for prosthetists and mould laboratory technicians in the respective units.

Government Laboratory

The Government Laboratory conducts analytical, advisory and investigative work in chemistry and the allied sciences and provides scientific support for the implementation of government policy on health. The laboratory offers comprehensive and impartial scientific advice to government departments and public institutions.

Air, water and waste management samples were analysed mainly for the Environmental Protection Department. Analytical support was also provided to the Royal Observatory for the Background Air Pollution Monitoring Network and the Background Radiation Monitoring Programme.

The laboratory also carried out measurements of industrial emissions and factory atmospheres on behalf of the Labour Department. A 24-hour support service was provided to assist the emergency services in cases of chemical spills, fires involving dangerous goods and accidents caused by gases in confined spaces.

Medicinal products purchased by the government for use in hospitals and clinics were tested for compliance with pharmacopoeia or other specifications. Pharmaceutical prepa- rations intended for use and sale locally were examined in accordance with registration and