ENG-2001 — Page 231

HEALTH

Severely mentally handicapped persons requiring intensive nursing care and rehabilitation services are cared for at Tuen Mun Hospital (200 beds), Caritas Medical Centre (300 beds) and Siu Lam Hospital (300 beds). An outreach team has been established to provide services for early intervention.

Community Based Nursing Service

The Hospital Authority's Community Based Nursing Service provides post-discharge rehabilitative nursing care and treatment for the sick, the post-natal cases, the elderly, the disabled, and the mentally ill through a network of community nursing service. centres and community psychiatric nursing service offices. During the year, 57 806 patients were served and 729 053 home visits were made.

Port Health

The Port Health Office enforces measures in the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance and the International Health Regulations to prevent the introduction of quarantinable diseases into Hong Kong by air, land or sea. No cases of plague or yellow fever were reported during the year.

The Travellers' Health Service, launched in July 2000, provides a 'one-stop' service to outbound travellers that includes travel health risks assessment, immunisations, preventive medications and advice on risk-reduction measures. It is offered to the public on a full cost recovery basis. Timely information on various travel health topics and health alerts is also provided to the public through the bilingual travel health web site which is updated at least weekly.

Medical Charges

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

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

Subsequent to the release of the Consultant Document on Health Care Reform in December 2000, a comprehensive review of the existing fees structure in the public health care sector has been commissioned. The objectives of the review are to better target and prioritise finite public subsidies to areas of most needs, i.e., lower income groups and services that pose major financial risks to patients. While it would reduce the inappropriate and misuse of public medical services, the revamped fees structure. will remain affordable to the general public and a safety net will be in place to ensure that the poor and the needy will continue to receive adequate medical treatment.

Smoking and Health

In February 2001, a Tobacco Control Office was set up under the Department of Health to co-ordinate and enhance the Government's tobacco control efforts.

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