Family Health

The Family Health Service provides a comprehensive range of health promotion and disease prevention services for babies and young children aged from birth to five years and women aged 64 or below. The service operates through 50 Maternal and Child Health Centres and three Woman Health Centres. Physical examination, immunisation and developmental monitoring are offered to children, while antenatal, postnatal and family planning services are provided for women of child-bearing age at Maternal and Child Health Centres. A new parenting programme was introduced in September. It aims to equip parents with the necessary knowledge and skills to bring up happy and well-adjusted children. About 48 per cent and 95 per cent, respectively, of expectant mothers and newborns attended Maternal and Child Health Centres in 2002. In addition to the three Woman Health Centres, the Woman Health Service has been extended to 10 Maternal and Child Health Centres, providing health promotion and disease prevention programmes to women aged 64 or below.

    The government-subvented Family Planning Association of Hong Kong runs eight birth control clinics, three youth health care centres, a mobile clinic and seven women's clubs which provide sexual and reproductive health services, education and information. The services encompass fertility regulation, gynaecological check-up, pre-marital and pre-pregnancy preparation, menopause service, youth counselling and men's health. A Young Men Sexual Health Service was introduced in mid-2002. The association also offers training in family life education and sex education, and organises outreaching activities and publicity campaigns to promote family planning and responsible parenthood.

Student Health

The Student Health Service places emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention and continuity of care. Its 12 student health service centres and three special assessment centres provide free health assessment, health education and individual health counselling to all primary and secondary school students. The Adolescent Health Programme was introduced in the 2002–03 school year to promote psychosocial health in secondary schools. School health inspectors visit schools regularly regarding environmental hygiene and sanitation. School health officers and nurses advise on the control of communicable diseases and organise immunisation campaigns.

Health Promotion

During the year, the Central Health Education Unit underwent restructuring to discharge expanded roles and functions in health promotion. It organised knowledge-based, needs-driven, effective and health promotion actions within and beyond the Department of Health. Through a skilled and committed workforce, the unit provides direction and leadership, information support and resource materials to partners in health promotion.

    To promote healthy living within the community, the unit organised a series of promotional and media activities in 2002. These included programmes organised in collaboration with other government departments or non-governmental organisations such as the Healthy Exercise for All Campaign, World Tuberculosis Day, World Health Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Breastfeeding Week, World Heart Day, Mental Health Month and the New Life Campaign for organ donation.

Clinics

At present, the Department of Health operates 59 general out-patient clinics to provide accessible and affordable primary medical and health care to the public. For residents living on outlying islands and in remote areas, clinic service is delivered via mobile dispensaries, floating clinics and helicopters. Under a pilot scheme in 2001–02, five general out-patient clinics were transferred to the Hospital Authority. It is planned to transfer the operation of all general out-patient clinics to the Hospital Authority in 2003. The transfer helps to promote family-medicine based practice, provide a training ground for family-medicine based practice, and enhance the integration of primary and specialist care.

    The department also operates 20 methadone clinics, 19 tuberculosis and chest clinics, 11 social hygiene clinics, five dermatology clinics, four clinical genetic clinics, six child assessment centres and other clinic services. About 14 million visits to clinics were recorded in 2002.

    Apart from the public service facilities, members of the community may seek medical treatment from the private sector, which includes medical practitioners working in private practices, housing estate clinics and 184 clinics registered under the Medical Clinics Ordinance.