ENG-2001 — Page 234

HEALTH

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Chinese Medicine Council received over 8 000 applications for registration as Chinese medicine practitioners under the transitional arrangements. The council announced the names of Listed Chinese Medicine Practitioners in December. These listed Chinese medicine practitioners may eventually become registered Chinese medicine. practitioners if they have the relevant experience and academic qualification, or if they pass the registration assessment or licensing examination. The names of the first batch of registered Chinese medicine practitioners will be announced in 2002.

Subject to the enactment of the relevant subsidiary legislation, the regulatory system for Chinese medicines, which include licensing of traders of Chinese medicines and registration of proprietary Chinese medicines, would be implemented by phases from 2002.

Radiation Health

The Radiation Health Unit of the Department of Health is the Government's adviser on radiation safety and protection. It advises the Government on the protection of public health in the event of a nuclear incident, the management of radioactive materials and wastes, and the effects on health of radiation exposure. It also serves as the executive arm of the Radiation Board, which is the statutory authority set up under the Radiation Ordinance (Cap. 303), to control the import, export, sale, possession and use of radioactive substances and irradiating apparatus. It safeguards public health against ionising radiation through licensing control and inspection of premises where radioactive substances or irradiating apparatuses are present. It also conducts radiation monitoring measurements and provides health surveillance of the occupationally exposed persons.

In 2001, the unit assessed and issued 7 007 licences and permits and provided monitoring service to 7 600 occupationally exposed persons. The average radiation exposure of occupationally exposed persons was 0.10 mSv against an annual statutory limit of 20.

Auxiliary Medical Service

The Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) is a government financed volunteer organisation established under the Auxiliary Medical Service Ordinance. Its main role is to augment the regular medical, health and ambulance services during emergencies and to supplement such services in non-emergency situations. The Director of Health is the Commissioner of the AMS, and is responsible to the Chief Executive for the efficient operation of the organisation, which has an establishment of 100 civil servants.

Following a review of the volunteer organisation of the AMS, a simplified and streamlined structure with an establishment of 4418 volunteer members, was instituted in September. The volunteer members come from all walks of life, and include medical practitioners, nurses and paramedical personnel.

In order to meet the changing needs of the community, the AMS has established new supporting units in the reorganised structure, such as the Communication & Information Technology Division, Public Relations & Education Division and Service Quality Division. Furthermore, professionals such as medical practitioners and nurses were posted to operational teams at the district level to provide better service to the public.