ENG-1993 — Page 191

HEALTH

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services such as out-patient clinics, family health and family planning, health education and community health, territory-wide health services for tuberculosis and chest health, social hygiene, child assessment, clinical genetics, dental health, occupational health, public health and special preventive programmes, environmental health, port health, radiation health, drug addiction treatment, pharmaceutical 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.

The Hospital Authority is an independent statutory body responsible for the manage- ment and control of all public hospitals in Hong Kong.

The authority was established in December 1990 to integrate government and government-assisted hospitals with a view to optimising the use of resources, facilitating hospital management reforms and enhancing community participation. A comprehensive range of medical treatment and rehabilitation services is provided to patients through hospitals, specialist clinics and outreaching services operated by the authority. Since 1992, management reforms have been introduced in most public hospitals, with the emphasis on defining clear lines of accountability and greater devolution of responsibilities.

Of the 27 038 hospital beds in Hong Kong, 23 165 are in public hospitals under the Hospital Authority, 2927 are in private hospitals and 131 in institutions under the Department of Health.

In November, 6 493 doctors were registered with the Hong Kong Medical Council - 2 749 in the public sector and 3 744 in the private sector. The number of nurses registered

with the Hong Kong Nursing Board was 33 361.

Health of the Community

The health of the population compares favourably with that of developed countries. The infant mortality rate remains at five per 1000 live births. The average life expectancy at birth is 81 years for females and 75 years for males.

Cancers, heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases (strokes) continued to be the leading causes of death during the year, accounting for 30 per cent, 16 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, of the mortalities in the territory. These diseases generally affect older people. Given the continual ageing of the population, it is anticipated that they will remain prominent in the near future.

Communicable diseases are well under control. In 1993, there were 30 sporadic cases of cholera, 13 being imported cases and 17 local cases. There were 6 537 notifications of tuberculosis, with a notification rate of 110 per 100 000 population. The number of notified hepatitis A cases dropped to 860 compared to 3 626 in 1992.

To protect the population from infectious diseases, children in Hong Kong are immunised against nine infectious diseases at an early age. These are tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, poliomyelitis, tetanus, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella. The average coverage for primary school children is 99 per cent. As a result of the high coverage of immunisation, diphtheria and poliomyelitis have been virtually eradicated from the territory and the incidences of other diseases among children are kept at low levels.

HIV Infection and AIDS

The menace of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is increasing worldwide, in particular in Asian countries.