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Providing more public hospital beds, improving public health and curative services, as well as promoting healthy living are some of the major targets of the Health and Welfare Bureau's work plans for 2000.

This was disclosed by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Dr E K Yeoh, when he introduced plans for health care services next year at the meeting of the LegCo Panel on Health Services today (Thursday).

On curative services, Dr Yeoh said the bureau aimed to provide 853 additional public hospital beds in 1999-2000. Of this target, 158 beds have been provided since last April, and the reminder before the end of next March.

"In the 2000-2001 financial year, the bureau will provide a further 460 public hospital beds," Dr Yeoh said, adding that the total number of beds in the public hospital system by then would rise to around 29,000.

The construction of Tseung Kwan O Hospital has been completed and it will commence operation in early 2000. Planning for the redevelopment of Pok Oi Hospital and the establishment of a radiotherapy centre at Princess Margaret Hospital are in good progress, he noted.

Speaking of public health, Dr Yeoh said the Department of Health would continue its work of disease surveillance and prevention. The new Public Health Laboratory in Shek Kip Mei is scheduled for opening in 2002 while planning for the establishment of a Public Health Information System which will capture the community health status and disease patterns, has started.

The Healthy Living Campaign will, in the coming year, continue to organize health education and promotion programs, focusing on the benefits of healthy life styles, self-care, proper hygiene practices and environmental improvements. He looked forward to the community's support and assistance in making Hong Kong a healthier place to live in.

As regards the Hospital Authority, Dr Yeoh said it would continue to examine how best to reorganize and rationalize its services on a cluster basis.

"For example, it plans to complete the relocation of the inpatient obstetric service from Tsan Yuk Hospital to Queen Mary Hospital by 2001 and the rationalization of the services provided at Tang Shiu Kin Hospital, Ruttonjee Hospital and Tang Chi Ngong Specialist Clinic by 2003.

"These efforts will not only bring improved management efficiency, but also better convenience to the patients," Dr Yeoh said.

Steps will also be taken in the coming year to reduce the average queuing and waiting time for out-patient specialist services; enhance its community care service to look after the discharged patients and to reduce re-admission; continue developing day care, ambulance and community care services to reduce hospital admission and length of stay; and search for new and innovative ways to provide cost-effective care.

On health care review, Dr Yeoh said there was an overwhelming support for introducing reforms to the current health care system, including financing reforms, to ensure the long term sustainability of the system.

"We are now studying and analyzing these submissions. We aim to issue a consultation document, early next year, to seek public support for our proposed way forward," he said.

Turning to Chinese medicine, Dr Yeoh said that with the enactment of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance and the establishment of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong, the Health and Welfare Bureau was working on the relevant regulations related to registration of practitioners to be submitted to the Legislative Council.

"It is hoped that registration process will commence in 2000. Controls over the trading and manufacture of Chinese medicines will be introduced in phases, starting also from 2000.

"In the coming year, we shall examine how best we can assist in the development of international standards for Chinese medicines," he added.

End/Thursday, October 14, 1999

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