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Regarding the services of the Designated Clinics (DCs) and Special Assessment Centres (SACs), the Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman made the following announcement today (Tuesday, 3 March):
The HA has been closely monitoring the screening service for patients with history of consumption of possible melamine-tainted milk products (MTMP) and a recent review indicated that the demand for service has continued to decline.
"The attendance has fallen to an average of 28 cases per day in February for the primary screening service at the 18 Designated Clinics. At the same time, there are currently only 90 patients being referred to and pending further assessment by the SACs,กจ said the spokesman.
With decreasing demand for the screening service, HA will have the following arrangements to allow resumption of normal operation at the General Outpatient Clinics (GOPCs) and Specialist Outpatient Clinics (SOPCs):
- The free health screening service for children with consumption history of MTMP in the 18 DCs will be in operation until 31 March 2009.
- The free SAC services will remain in operation until 9 April 2009 or when all cases referred from the DCs have been provided with further assessment service.
- Thereafter, children suspected with renal symptoms related to MTMP may consult private practitioners or attend any of the 74 GOPCs for assessment by acquiring a medical consultation disc through the usual channel, and if clinically indicated, be referred to an appropriate SOPC for further investigation. These services will be subject to the standard fees and charges, i.e. $45 for each GOPC consultation and $100 and $60 for the first and subsequent SOPC consultation respectively.
Posters will be put up in HA hospitals and clinics to keep service users informed of the service arrangement.
As at 5 pm today (3 March), the DCs provided screening to eight patients, and the SACs has not attended any patients. A total of 56,404 attendances and 27,319 assessments have been conducted at the DCs and SACs respectively since 23 September 2008.
"So far, there have been a total 14 reported cases of renal problems suspected to be related to the consumption of MTMP in Hong Kong. The patients have all been discharged and are in stable condition," added the spokesman.
Ends/Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:36
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