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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the services of the Designated Clinics and the Special Assessment Centres, a Hospital Authority spokesperson provided the following updates today (February 9):
The Designated Clinics today (as at 5pm) and on Saturday (February 7) morning provided initial assessment to a total of 55 patients. Patients who require further assessment and treatment have been referred to the Special Assessment Centres (SACs). The assessment centres attended to 65 patients in the two days. A total of 56,084 attendances and 27,135 assessments have been reported at the Designated Clinics and SACs respectively since they began operations on September 23, 2008. The clinics and SACs will be in operation for at least six months and as long as there is demand for the service.
As of today, the Hospital Authority has reported 14 cases of renal problems suspected to be related to the consumption of melamine tainted milk products.
The Hospital Authority said the free screening service was a contingency arrangement with its prime focus on local children who had an "eligible person" status. Other patients will be referred to private healthcare providers to reserve adequate capacity for locals.
Ends/Monday, February 9, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:41
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