ENG-2003 — Page 221

HEALTH

The epidemic highlighted the urgent need to review the capacity of the health care system, and to better prepare for any future outbreak. The Chief Executive of the HKSAR announced on May 28 the setting up of a SARS Expert Committee to conduct a review. Members of the Expert Committee were selected for their wide. range of experience in their respective fields, which included health systems, public health, epidemiology and communicable disease control, medical expertise, and hospital management and operation.

The Expert Committee reviewed the work of the Government, including the Hospital Authority, in the management and the control of the outbreak. It examined and reviewed the capabilities and structure of the health care system in Hong Kong and the organisation and operation of the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority in the prevention and management of infectious diseases such as SARS. The Expert Committee also identified lessons to be learnt, and made recommendations on areas requiring improvements in order to better prepare the system for any future outbreak.

The Expert Committee released its report on October 2, and proposed a comprehensive set of improvement measures. The Government attaches much importance to full and timely implementation of these recommendations. In November, the Chief Executive appointed a Monitoring Committee to oversee the implementation of the recommendations. The Monitoring Committee will make periodic reports to the Chief Executive on the progress of implementation.

Other Communicable Diseases

Hong Kong now lists 28 statutory notifiable infectious diseases, including three quarantinable diseases, namely cholera, plague and yellow fever. During the year, 15 885 cases of notifiable infectious diseases were reported, of which 38.3 per cent were due to tuberculosis.

Children in Hong Kong are immunised against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella. Owing to high vaccine coverage, diseases such as diphtheria and poliomyelitis have been eradicated and the incidence of other vaccine-preventable infectious diseases among children is relatively low.

As at year-end, the cumulative number of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) cases reported had exceeded 2 200 and 650, respectively. Each year, about 200 new cases of HIV infection are reported. Sexual transmission remained the most common mode of spread of the infection, though in recent years there has been growing concern over reports of HIV infection among injection drug users.

Centre for Health Protection

On May 5, the Chief Executive announced that the Administration had begun a study on establishing a Centre for Disease Control type of organisation in Hong Kong to strengthen its capacity to combat communicable diseases. This initiative was echoed in the SARS Expert Committee's report issued on October 2. The committee recommended, among other things, that a Centre for Health Protection (CHP) with responsibility, authority and accountability for prevention and control of communicable diseases be set up within the Government and its existing public health infrastructure.

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