ENG-1997 — Page 216

HEALTH

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inspections. No worker exceeded the statutory annual dose limit of 20 millisievert. The average individual occupational dose was 0.17 millisievert.

Medical Charges

Fees in public hospitals and clinics are heavily subsidised. Patients in general wards of public hospitals are charged $68 a day. This covers food, accommodation, tests, medicine and surgery or other treatment. Some private beds are provided at major public hospitals with higher maintenance and treatment charges.

A consultation at a general out-patient clinic costs $37, while a specialist consultation costs $44. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and child assessment services cost $44 per session. Attendance at geriatric or psychiatric day centres and home visits by community nurses are $55 per session. Fees may be reduced or waived in cases of financial hardship.

Smoking and Health

The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health is an independent statutory body, established in 1987 to acquire and disseminate information on the hazards of using tobacco products, and to advise the government on matters of smoking and health. The Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance was further amended in June 1997. Among other measures, the amendment provides for tobacco advertisements in printed publications and on display to be banned by 1999, and for the introduction of more no-smoking areas in public places. More prominent health warnings will also be introduced on packages of tobacco products, along with a requirement to display tar and nicotine yields.

Training of Medical and Health Personnel

The University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong provide basic training of doctors. Their medical student intake in 1997 was 170 and 163, respectively. Under the Licentiate Scheme of the Hong Kong Medical Council, nine externally-trained doctors passed the local licentiate examination in 1997.

The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine is an independent statutory body with the authority to approve, assess and accredit all post-internship medical training. Its 15 colleges conduct training and examinations to award specialist qualifications to qualifying candidates.

The School of Public Health Nursing in the Department of Health provides a full- time in-service training programme for registered nurses which leads to a diploma in public health nursing studies. It also runs various short courses for enhancing and updating professional knowledge of all grades of nurses.

Training in dentistry is available at the University of Hong Kong, which produced 36 dentists in 1997.

Government Laboratory

The Government Laboratory supported government initiatives in safeguarding public health and safety through the regular testing of foods, pharmaceuticals and household goods. In all, 54 212 tests were conducted in 1997 to ensure regulatory compliance of food products in respect of labelling, additives and toxic residues.