ENG-2004 — Page 235

Health 1 193

4 866 midwives, 1 517 pharmacists, 74 chiropractors, 1 858 physiotherapists, 1 130 occupational therapists, 2 534 medical laboratory technologists, 1 922 optometrists and 1 568 radiographers.

Training of Medical and Health Personnel

The University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong provide basic training of doctors. They took in 143 and 141 medical students, respectively, in 2004. During the year, nine doctors with professional qualifications obtained outside Hong Kong passed the Licensing Examination conducted by the Medical Council of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine is an independent statutory body with the authority to approve, assess and accredit specialist training within the medical and dental professions. Its 15 colleges conduct training and examinations to award specialist qualifications to qualifying candidates. Training in dentistry is available at the University of Hong Kong, which enrolled 53 dentists in 2004. Three local universities offer full time degree programmes in Chinese Medicine. In 2004, 48 full-time local Chinese medicine graduates have passed the Licensing Examinations and registered as Chinese medicine practitioners.

For allied health professionals, degree programmes in the areas of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, optometry and radiography are also offered by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with an enrolment of 63, 40, 35 and 30 students respectively in 2004.

The University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the School of General Nursing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital of the Hospital Authority provide basic training of Registered Nurses. The three universities recruited 451 nursing students into their four-year general nursing degree programmes in 2004. In addition, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the School of General Nursing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital enrolled 220 nursing students into their three-year higher diploma nursing programmes. During the year, 43 nurses with professional nursing qualifications obtained outside Hong Kong passed the Licensing Examinations for Registered Nurses or Enrolled Nurses conducted by the Nursing Council of Hong Kong.

Medical Charges

Medical charges in Hong Kong are affordable to the public, with government subsidy for public sector services representing a high level of 97 per cent of costs. Recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) have been exempted from payment of public medical charges. In addition, an enhanced medical fee waiver mechanism has been implemented to protect vulnerable groups other than CSSA recipients, including low-income patients, chronically ill patients and elderly patients in economic hardship, against financial burdens arising from healthcare needs.