ENG-2007 — Page 211

Health 163

Clinic Services

Public general outpatient services are primarily targeted at low-income families, patients with chronic diseases and other vulnerable groups. The Hospital Authority operates 74 general outpatient clinics in Hong Kong. In 2007, some 1.23 million people made 4.77 million visits to those clinics. Since the implementation of the telephone booking system for outpatient services in October 2006, about 90 per cent of patients with episodic illnesses have made bookings by telephone. Over 80 per cent of elderly people with episodic illnesses also made appointments by telephone. More than 60 per cent of elderly people using general outpatient services suffered from chronic diseases. To better assist them, a 'Chronic Disease Follow-up Appointment System' has been set up for them. For needy elderly people with episodic illnesses, the Hospital Authority has also reserved quotas for them to improve their access to general outpatient services. Continuing efforts were made at primary outpatient clinics to promote the development of family medicine, provide specialist training in family medicine, enhance the interface and integration of primary and secondary care, as well as upgrade the quality and efficiency of primary healthcare services. Some $1.2 billion were spent on public general outpatient services in the 2006-07 financial year.

To promote the development of 'evidence-based' Chinese medicine practice and to enhance training opportunities for local Chinese medicine graduates, the Hospital Authority has opened nine Chinese medicine outpatient clinics as at end of 2007. During the year, a subvention of $36.81 million was provided for the clinics. A total of 39 801 patients made 231 924 visits to the nine clinics, and 51 new graduates were recruited.

The majority of Hong Kong people seek outpatient services from the private sector, which is served by about 6 000 doctors in private practice and 154 clinics registered under the Medical Clinics Ordinance. Services are also provided by 5 619 registered Chinese medicine practitioners (including 79 with limited registration) and 2 847 listed Chinese medicine practitioners.

About 27 million and 6 million outpatients visit western medicine clinics and Chinese medicine practitioners' clinics in the private sector respectively each year. The majority of people in Hong Kong can afford their services.

Family Health

Apart from general outpatient services, the public sector provides specialised services to citizens of particular age groups or who need specialist medical treatment.

The Department of Health provides a comprehensive range of health promotion and disease prevention services through its 31 maternal and child health centres and three woman health centres for children up to five years of age, and women aged 64 or below. Anticipatory guidance on child care and parenting is provided for parents and care-givers in the centres. Immunisation and health and developmental surveillance services are offered to children. Antenatal, postnatal, family planning, cervical screening and health education are provided for women. Some 27 000 expectant mothers and 58 000 newborns attended maternal and child health centres,