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HEALTH

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Training in dentistry is available at the University of Hong Kong which produced the eighth batch of 38 graduates in January 1992. The training of dental therapists is provided at the Tang Shiu Kin Dental Therapists Training School.

Three-year basic nursing training is offered by schools of nursing of the Hospital Authority (HA) and one private hospital. The Hong Kong Polytechnic and the Chinese University of Hong Kong also conduct undergraduate degree nursing courses. On completion of either programmes and having registered with the Nursing Board of Hong Kong, graduates are licensed to practise as registered nurses. The three-year training capacity for student nurses in the HA general nursing schools is 3 417 while that of the psychiatric nursing schools is 520. Two-year programmes are also organised to train pupil nurses to become enrolled nurses. The two-year training capacity for HA schools is 991 in the general stream and 160 for the psychiatric. Opportunities for further training in specialised fields are available both locally and overseas.

The departments of Diagnostic Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences and Health Sciences of the Hong Kong Polytechnic provide training for para-medical and para-dental staff, including radiographers, optometrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical laboratory technicians and dental technicians. Training for speech therapists is provided by the University of Hong Kong. The Chai Wan Technical Institute of the Technical Education and Industrial Training Department provides training for dispensers which is complemented by in-service training. There is also in-service training for prosthetists, mould laboratory technicians and therapeutic radiographers in the respective units of public institutions. Where local training is not yet available, government training scholarship programmes are offered for supply of audiologists, audiological technicians, orthoptists and chiropodists. There are opportunities for overseas training in specialised areas for medical, nursing, para-medical and para-dental staff.

Government Laboratory

The Government Laboratory provides a wide range of primarily chemical testing services to government departments and other institutions. Much of the work is related to the protection of public health and the environment. The laboratory has statutory respon- sibilities for testing under a number of ordinances and regulations.

Food and food products are regularly tested over the year for composition, additives, toxic residues and contaminants. Several outbreaks of food poisoning arising from consumption of vegetables contaminated with toxic pesticide residues, have led the laboratory again to be heavily involved in the checking of vegetable samples. Results of analysis are made available within a few hours of sample receipt to enable client departments to take appropriate follow-up action in good time.

Pharmaceutical products for use in public hospitals and clinics are tested for compliance with pharmacopoeia or other specifications. Those intended for use and sale locally are examined for compliance with registration and labelling requirements. Herbal medicines are checked for the presence of synthetic drugs and toxic metals.

In other areas of public health, projects have been conducted with the Consumer Council to test for toxic and carcinogenic substances in several types of consumer products, and a unit was set up to undertake comprehensive testing of toys and products for children for compliance with safety requirements.

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