ENG-1991 — Page 181

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HEALTH

WITH the publication of the report of the Working Party on Primary Health Care and the transfer of management and control of public hospitals to the Hospital Authority, Hong Kong is poised for major reforms to further improve the quality of its medical and health services.

The Department of Health is the health authority and adviser to the government on all matters related to health. It operates a wide range of services to promote health and prevent_diseases. These include personal health services like out-patient clinics, family health and family planning, health education and community health, territory-wide health services like tuberculosis and chest health, social hygiene, child assessment, dental health, occupational health, disease surveillance, public health and special preventive programmes, environmental health, port health, radiation health, drug addiction treatment, pharma- ceutical services and hygiene services. Through collaboration with the private sector and teaching institutions, the department strives to provide a comprehensive range of primary health care services to the community.

Since December 1, 1991, the Hospital Authority has taken over the management and control of all public hospitals. It is an independent statutory body established for integrating government and government-assisted hospitals with a view to improving the quality and efficiency of public hospital services by optimising the use of resources, facilitating hospital management reforms and enhancing community participation. It operates a range of regional, district and convalescent hospitals, specialist out-patient clinics and day hospitals, providing a comprehensive range of medical treatment and rehabilitation services to patients. Starting early in 1992, the Hospital Authority will introduce, in phases, management reforms in public hospitals.

Government remains responsible for the policy and funding of public hospital services. It is committed to the principle that no person should be prevented, through lack of means, from obtaining adequate medical treatment.

The Department of Health, the Hospital Authority (and, prior to the transfer of its operational responsibilities to the Hospital Authority, the Hospital Services Department) continued to make progress on an extensive development programme which included the planning of additional public hospitals as well as additional general out-patient clinics and specialist out-patient services. The Tuen Mun Hospital opened in March 1990, with services being introduced in five phases to provide 1 600 beds for the West New Terri- tories region.

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