ENG-2002 — Page 217

HEALTH

Timely information on various travel health topics and health alerts is also provided to the public through the bilingual travel health website.

Medical Charges

In the Health Care Reform Consultation Document published in December 2000, one of the strategic directions on health care financing was to revamp the fee structure of Hong Kong's public health care sector, so that the public subsidies could be targeted to areas of most need and inappropriate use and misuse of services could be reduced. Following a comprehensive review to examine how the relative priorities of services provided may be reflected in the subsidy level and how inappropriate use and misuse of services can be minimised, the Administration announced its decision to revamp the fee structure of the public health care system in November. Except for the new charge for accident and emergency service (which took effect from November 29), all revised charges will take effect from April 1, 2003, after a moratorium on public fees and charges. Following the fee restructuring, charges would continue to be affordable but should also be effective in influencing patient behaviour. Overall, even at the revised fee level, the government subsidy still represents a high level of 96 per cent of

costs.

It has always been the Government's fundamental philosophy that no one will be denied adequate medical care due to lack of means. To assist the vulnerable groups in the community, including low income earners, the chronically ill and the elderly, the existing medical fee waiver mechanism would be enhanced in parallel in order to provide effective protection to them.

Smoking and Health

The Tobacco Control Office was set up in 2001 under the Department of Health to coordinate the Government's tobacco control efforts and promote a smoke-free culture in Hong Kong through intersectoral collaboration and community

mobilisation.

Recognising the complexity of tobacco control issues, the office has adopted a multi-pronged approach to achieve its goals. One of the priority areas is to assist managers and staff working in statutory no-smoking areas to comply with and enforce the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. In 2002, 590 restaurants and 142 shopping malls were visited and the legal requirements explained to managers of these no-smoking areas.

Under the ordinance, tobacco advertisements are prohibited in printed publications distributed in Hong Kong. The office screened 2 100 issues of printed publications and issued 19 warning letters against tobacco advertisements during the year. The office also organises health education activities by itself or in collaboration with other organisations to increase public awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco and second-hand smoke.

On June 21, 2001, the then Health and Welfare Bureau released a public consultation document on the Government's proposed legislative amendments to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance. The document invited members of the public to express their views on the proposed legislative amendments, which include measures to expand the statutory no-smoking areas in public indoor areas and to tighten control on tobacco advertising and promotion. The consultation ended in September 2001, with over 10 000 written submission received from different sectors of the

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