DOCSLIB.ORG

Letter from the Secretary for Food and Health

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Letter from the Secretary for Food and Health 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區政府總部食物及衞生局 Food and Health Bureau, Government Secretariat The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region The People’s Republic of China 17 April 2020 Dear Doctor, Thank you for your unfailing support in fighting against COVID-19. With the dramatic reduction in the number of inbound arrivals, the community- wide effort to adhere to masking, observance of hand and personal hygiene and social distancing as well as the COVID-19 tests for targeted groups , the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong has receded recently. That said, we are wary that the COVID-19 transmission chains may still be lurking around. Some COVID-19 infected people could be asymptomatic and could well be exposing high-risk groups like elders to the disease. Testing for COVID-19 therefore remains a core component in our sustained fight against the disease. As doctors enrolled in the Primary Care Directory, I am sure you share our vision and commitment to the provision of directly accessible, comprehensive, continuing, co-ordinated and person-centred primary care services. Many of you are also family doctors of members of the public and would be their first point of contact in the healthcare system. I therefore appeal to you to support the enhanced laboratory surveillance for COVID-19 at your clinics and collect specimens as many patients as possible, in particular the elderly population. Compared to other age groups, the elderly are more susceptible to the serious health hazards or even casualties posed by COVID-19. In case you or your team identify fever, respiratory or other symptoms amongst your elder patients or their close contacts, please arrange COVID-19 test as appropriate in order to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus in our community. As you are probably aware, the Public Health Laboratory Centre (PHLC) under the Department of Health (DH) has developed an open network with all private medical practitioners who can arrange – either through their established partnering laboratories or directly with PHLC, for their patients to be tested for COVID-19. To facilitate the return of specimens, PHLC has arranged collection points at 13 DH outlets. Two member companies of the Cyberport Start-up Alumni Associations, namely GoGoVan and HK Pick-Up Limited provide pick- up and delivery services at a fee to patients who have been arranged with COVID- 19 testing by private doctors under the Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance Programme. As of 15 April 2020, about 86 COVID-19 cases had been detected via Tier 5 surveillance, giving a positive rate of about 1.29%. As we soldier on in this fight against COVID-19, DH and its PHLC are prepared to continue stretching their testing capacities to the limit to support more tests for elders and related service providers. For details of specimen collection and arrangements provided by the PHLC, please refer to CHP’s letters with date below: 08 Apr 2020 - https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/letters_to_doctors_20200408.pdf 06 Apr 2020 - https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/letters_to_doctors_20200406.pdf 11 Mar 2020 - https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/letters_to_doctors_20200311.pdf 06 Mar 2020 - https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/letters_to_doctors_20200306.pdf All said, we are here to serve. Testing is available. For enquiries, please contact PHLSB (Tel: 2319 8360) or email to [email protected]. Thank you very much for your support in the prevention and control of COVID-19. Together, We Fight the Virus! Yours sincerely, (Prof. Sophia Siu Chee CHAN) Secretary for Food and Health .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Bay to Bay: China's Greater Bay Area Plan and Its Synergies for US And
    June 2021 Bay to Bay China’s Greater Bay Area Plan and Its Synergies for US and San Francisco Bay Area Business Acknowledgments Contents This report was prepared by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute for the Hong Kong Trade Executive Summary ...................................................1 Development Council (HKTDC). Sean Randolph, Senior Director at the Institute, led the analysis with support from Overview ...................................................................5 Niels Erich, a consultant to the Institute who co-authored Historic Significance ................................................... 6 the paper. The Economic Institute is grateful for the valuable information and insights provided by a number Cooperative Goals ..................................................... 7 of subject matter experts who shared their views: Louis CHAPTER 1 Chan (Assistant Principal Economist, Global Research, China’s Trade Portal and Laboratory for Innovation ...9 Hong Kong Trade Development Council); Gary Reischel GBA Core Cities ....................................................... 10 (Founding Managing Partner, Qiming Venture Partners); Peter Fuhrman (CEO, China First Capital); Robbie Tian GBA Key Node Cities............................................... 12 (Director, International Cooperation Group, Shanghai Regional Development Strategy .............................. 13 Institute of Science and Technology Policy); Peijun Duan (Visiting Scholar, Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies Connecting the Dots ..............................................
    [Show full text]
  • Review Article Review of Public Private Partnership
    REVIEW ARTICLE REVIEW OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE IN HONG KONG Cynthia Lau, Ben Yuk Fai Fong School of Professional Education and Executive Development, College of Professional and Continuing Education, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Correspondence: [email protected] ABSTRACT Public Private Partnership Programme is a cooperation between different healthcare professionals in both public and private sectors in Hong Kong. Over the decades, many programmes have been developed which cover various diseases, including chronic conditions and surgery for cataracts, as well as vaccinations. However, these programmes are not successful because of the unsatisfactory service charges in the private sector, overlapped aims and resources and wrong estimation of needs. To become successful, programmes reform is required by rearranging resources, annual reviews, more financial support and extending the coverage of diseases. Promotions of programmes are beneficial to all stakeholders. Overall, better coordination between both sectors is the essential factor which can lead the programme to success and maintain a better health care system in Hong Kong. KEYWORDS Public Private Partnership, Health Care System, Coordination, Reform, Hong Kong. 1. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN HONG KONG of the government manages services related to public health and primary care, supported by the Centre for There are elements of both the public and private sector Health Protection and other respective units, including involved in the delivery services in the Hong Kong Special infection control, social hygiene and prevention of Administrative Region (SAR) communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases. The Department of Health also provides health education, 1.1 PUBLIC SECTOR assessment of children and supervision of elderly homes The Food and Health Bureau is responsible for making and family health.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Childhood Caries and Oral Health Care of Hong Kong Preschool Children
    Journal name: Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry Article Designation: Review Year: 2019 Volume: 11 Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry Dovepress Running head verso: Chen et al Running head recto: ECC and oral health care of Hong Kong preschool children open access to scientific and medical research DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CCIDE.S190993 Open Access Full Text Article REVIEW Early childhood caries and oral health care of Hong Kong preschool children Kitty Jieyi Chen Abstract: Surveys have shown that the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) among Sherry Shiqian Gao 5-year-old children decreased from 63% in 1993 to 55% in 2017. Caries experience was unevenly Duangporn Duangthip distributed; 81% of the caries lesions were found in 26% of the children. Risk factors, including Edward Chin Man Lo oral hygiene practice behaviors, sugar consumption, parental oral health-related knowledge, Chun Hung Chu and sociodemographic backgrounds, were significantly related to ECC. Oral health promotion aimed at managing the burden of ECC has been implemented. Water fluoridation was launched Faculty of Dentistry, The University of in 1961, and the fluoride concentration has been adjusted to 0.5 ppm since 1988. It is considered Hong Kong, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong an important dental public health measure in Hong Kong. The Department of Health set up the Oral Health Education Unit in 1989 to deliver oral health education to further improve the oral For personal use only. health of preschool children. Other nongovernmental organizations also launched short-term oral health promotion programs for preschool children. However, no significant change in the prevalence of ECC has been observed in the recent two decades.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Report 2007 Food and Health Bureau Profile of Key
    Environmental Report 2007 Food and Health Bureau Profile of Key Responsibilities The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau (HWFB) was re-organised and renamed as Food and Health Bureau (FHB) with effect from 1 July 2007. The policy portfolios of elderly, women and welfare matters under the then HWFB were transferred to the Labour and Welfare Bureau on the same date. After the reorganisation, the Food and Health Bureau is responsible for policy areas of food and environmental hygiene, and health issues. It aims to formulate and coordinate policies and programmes: (i) to improve environmental hygiene and ensure food safety in the territory; and (ii) to safeguard and promote public health and to ensure that no one is prevented, through lack of means, from obtaining adequate medical treatment. 2. The Food and Heath Bureau is organised into two branches for the following responsibilities: Food and Environmental Hygiene matters z Policy matters relating to food safety, environmental hygiene, agriculture, fisheries, animal welfare and management. Health matters z Policy matters relating to medical and health services, including provision of hospital services, fees and charges of public medical and health services, health promotion and - 2 - prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases, regulation, self-regulation and development of medical nursing, dentistry and allied health professional and regulation of drugs. z Policy matters relating to the development of primary health care services, long-term health care policies, regulation of medical technologies and research, development of Chinese medicine outpatient services, development of large-scale public health information systems, health policy research and anti-smoking and tobacco control policy.
    [Show full text]
  • Hong Kong * | Freedom House Page 1 of 5
    Hong Kong * | Freedom House Page 1 of 5 Hong Kong * freedomhouse.org Freedom of expression is protected by law, and Hong Kong media remained lively in their criticism of the territory’s government and to a lesser extent the Chinese central government in 2014. However, Beijing’s enormous economic power and influence over Hong Kong businesses, politicians, and media owners allow it to exert considerable indirect pressure on the territory’s media, leading to growing self-censorship in recent years. During 2014, the environment for media freedom declined further as physical attacks against journalists increased, massive cyberattacks crippled widely read news sites at politically significant moments, and businesses withdrew advertising from outlets that were critical of Beijing and supportive of prodemocracy protesters. The year featured an especially brutal assault on a former chief editor of the daily newspaper Ming Pao, as well as a wave of attacks on journalists covering prodemocracy protests and counterdemonstrations. Legal Environment Under Article 27 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong residents enjoy freedoms of speech, press, and publication, and these rights are generally upheld by the territory’s independent courts. However, they risk being undermined by the power of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s rubber-stamp parliament, to make final interpretations of the Basic Law, as well as by Chinese surveillance in the territory and the mainland economic interests of local media owners. Moreover, the perpetrators and especially the organizers of attacks on journalists in recent years have often gone unpunished, creating a climate of impunity that became more evident in 2014 as the pace of attacks increased.
    [Show full text]
  • Population Ageing in Hong Kong: Implications for Planning Health Services and Financing Retirement Security
    Research Assessment Exercise 2020 Impact Case Study University: The Chinese University of Hong Kong Unit of Assessment (UoA): 21 Economics & Finance Title of case study: Population Ageing in Hong Kong: Implications for Planning Health Services and Financing Retirement Security (1) Summary of the impact (indicative maximum 100 words) The ageing of populations is a common problem for many countries around the world. Hong Kong is no exception. After the change of sovereignty in 1997, there was the potential for changes in policy and for reforms of health care and social security programmes. What might retirement mean in the coming years? What might retirement benefits look like? How can Hong Kong finance the health care costs for elderly people? Research by Professor Wai Sum Chan at The Chinese University of Hong Kong has provided impactful influence to the formation of government policy. He has been presenting his research to the senior government units, such as the Commission on Poverty, the Food and Health Bureau, the Elderly Commission, the Central Policy Unit, the Legislative Council and the general public. Professor Chan was invited to describe his research findings and suggestions on policy direction in various media outlets in Hong Kong (such as RTHK). (2) Underpinning research (indicative maximum 500 words) The twentieth century witnessed an unprecedented extension of human longevity around the world. However, the prospects of longer lives have led to concern over their implications for social, financial, health care and retirement systems. With one of the world’s longest life expectancies (87.6 for women, 81.9 for men in 2017), Hong Kong is now ageing faster than many other countries.
    [Show full text]
  • Can Voucher Scheme Enhance Primary Care Provision for Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study in Hong Kong Johnny T
    Cheung et al. BMC Geriatrics (2020) 20:442 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01851-x RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Can voucher scheme enhance primary care provision for older adults: cross-sectional study in Hong Kong Johnny T. K. Cheung1*, Samuel Y.S. Wong2, Dicken C. C. Chan2, Dexing Zhang2, Lawrence H. F. Luk2, Patsy Y. K. Chau2, Benjamin H. K. Yip2, Eric K. P. Lee2, Eliza L. Y. Wong2 and E. K. Yeoh2 Abstract Background: The Hong Kong government has launched the Elderly Health Care Voucher (EHCV) scheme to facilitate primary care in the private sector for older adults. This study aimed to examine whether voucher use was associated with a shift of healthcare burden from the public to the private sector, vaccine uptake and continuity of care. Methods: This cross-sectional survey recruited older adults with ≥3 chronic diseases through convenience sampling from seven general outpatient clinics, seven geriatric day hospitals, and five specialist outpatient clinics of the public healthcare sector in Hong Kong. We used multiple logistic regression to address the study objective. Results: A total of 1032 patients participated in the survey. We included 714 participants aged 70 or above in the analysis. EHCV use was associated with higher utilization of private primary care services, including general practitioner and family doctor (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 2.67, 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) 1.51– 4.72) and Chinese medicine clinic (AOR 3.53, 95%CI 1.47–8.49). There were no significant associations of EHCV use with public general outpatient clinic attendance, Accident & Emergency attendance, and hospitalization.
    [Show full text]
  • Promoting Health in Hong Kong : a Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases
    Hong Kong: A Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China Promoting Health in Hong Kong : A Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases i Contents Foreword by Dr York YN CHOW, Secretary for Food and Health iv Preface by Dr PY LAM, Director of Health vi Executive Summary viii 1. Introduction 1 To Make a Difference 4 2. Conceptual Basis for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases 5 Public Health Perspective 7 Health Determinant 8 Cluster of Risk Factor 9 Life-course Approach 11 Preventive Strategy 12 Population-wide versus Individual-based Approach 17 Health Disparity 20 Health Literacy and Social Marketing 21 Setting Health Priority 22 3. Global Perspective on Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control 23 The Neglected Epidemic 24 International Experience 28 ii 4. Overview of Local Situation 37 General Well-being 39 Prevalent Health Risk and Behaviour 41 Prevalence of Chronic Health Condition 43 Major Disease Killer 45 Use of Hospital and Clinic Service 48 Health Expenditure 51 Health Disparity 53 Initiatives in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 54 5. Strategic Framework 57 Principle 59 Scope 59 Vision 62 Goal 62 Strategic Direction 63 6. Key Elements for Implementation 65 Partnership 66 Environment 67 Outcome-focused 68 Population-based Intervention 68 Life-course Approach 69 Empowerment 70 7. Making It Happen 71 Call for Support 74 References 75 iii Foreword The rapid increase in the number of people suffering from non­ communicable diseases (NCD) presents one of the biggest challenges to the healthcare systems worldwide.
    [Show full text]
  • For Discussion on 15 March 2021 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PANEL
    LC Paper No. CB(4)605/20-21(04) For discussion on 15 March 2021 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PANEL ON PUBLIC SERVICE Participation of Civil Servants in the Fight against COVID-19 Pandemic PURPOSE This paper briefs Members on the participation and concerted effort of civil servants in the fight against Coronavirus Disease - 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. BACKGROUND 2. The COVID-19 epidemic is wreaking havoc around the world and has brought unprecedented impacts both locally and internationally. On 25 January 2020, the Government raised the COVID-19 response level to Emergency Response Level. Under the direction of the Steering Committee cum Command Centre chaired by the Chief Executive, the Government has taken prompt and effective action in safeguarding public health by preventing the importation of cases on one hand and preventing the spreading of the virus in the community on the other. The Government has deployed stringent border control measures with a view to stopping the transmission of the virus at source. Strict enforcement of quarantine arrangements and closed-loop management for persons arriving in Hong Kong are in place for the prevention of imported cases. At the same time, the Government has been stepping up surveillance and testing efforts, enhancing contact tracing and implementing social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the virus in the community. All the anti-epidemic measures, programmes and operations could not be launched successfully without the many proactive effort that the civil service has made and the many extra miles that the civil service has walked. With the commitment to serving the community, the civil service stands unitedly to tackle the challenges brought by the epidemic despite all the difficulties encountered.
    [Show full text]
  • RTHK Annual Plan for 2019/20
    RTHK Annual Plan for 2019/20 Purpose The purpose of this annual plan is to inform the public of Radio Television Hong Kong’s (RTHK) programming outline for the year 2019/20 and to provide a basis for public scrutiny of the extent to which RTHK fulfills the public purposes and mission as set out in the RTHK Charter. The public purposes and mission of RTHK are - (a) to sustain citizenship and civil society; (b) to provide an open platform for the free exchange of views without fear or favour; (c) to encourage social inclusion and pluralism; (d) to promote education and learning; and (e) to stimulate creativity and excellence to enrich the multi-cultural life of Hong Kong people. For details of RTHK’s public purposes and mission, please refer to the RTHK Charter at: http://rthk9.rthk.hk/about/pdf/charter_eng.pdf . Overview 2. For 2019/20, RTHK will pursue objectives in the following four areas - (a) Programme Direction In accordance with the RTHK Charter, RTHK produces quality programmes that inform, educate and entertain the public in wide-ranging topics, underlined with creativity and responsibility in Page 1 RTHK Annual Plan for 2019/20 content development. RTHK will partner with government bureaux / departments and non-governmental organizations for quality programme production. Key programming directions for 2019/20 of RTHK are: (i) Healthy Hong Kong (健康香港) will be the main theme for RTHK programming this year; (ii) Produce programmes to promote sports as an instrument to enhance physical and mental health, provide sports news and live
    [Show full text]
  • Risk for International Importations of Variant SARS-Cov-2 Originating In
    RESEARCH LETTERS This project was supported by the Health and Medical Risk for International Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (grant no. Importations of Variant COVID190118). SARS-CoV-2 Originating in B.J.C. consults for Roche and Sanofi Pasteur. The authors the United Kingdom report no other potential conflicts of interest. Zhanwei Du,1 Lin Wang,1 Bingyi Yang, About the Author Sheikh Taslim Ali, Tim K. Tsang, Songwei Shan, Peng Wu, Eric H.Y. Lau, Benjamin J. Cowling, Ms. Fong is a research postgraduate student at the School Lauren Ancel Meyers of Public Health, University of Hong Kong. Her research interests are the transmission and control of respiratory Author affiliations: WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious viruses among children, particularly in school settings. Disease Epidemiology and Control, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China (Z. Du, B. Yang, S.T. Ali, T.K. Tsang, S. Shan, P. Wu, E.H.Y. Lau, B.J. Cowling); Laboratory of Data Discovery References for Health, Hong Kong (Z. Du, S.T. Ali, S. Shan, P. Wu, 1. Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Media session (2020 November 12) [cited 2020 Dec E.H.Y. Lau, B.J. Cowling); University of Cambridge, Cambridge, 23]. https://isd.wecast.hk/vod/?id=11384 UK (L. Wang); The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 2. Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative USA (L.A. Meyers); Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Region. Media session (2020 November 20) [cited 2020 Dec USA (L.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Shall We Talk” Initiative Was Officially Launched in July 2020
    For discussion on Paper FC 3/2021 12 March 2021 Family Council Promotion of Mental Health PURPOSE This paper provides background information to facilitate Members’ discussion of the presentation to be made by the Food and Health Bureau (FHB) on promotion of mental health. BACKGROUND 2. The Government attaches great importance to the mental well-being of the public. The Department of Health (DH) has been promoting mental well- being by enhancing public awareness through education and publicity using a life-course and setting-based approach. 3. In January 2016, DH launched a three-year territory-wide campaign named “Joyful@HK”. The Campaign, targeting at general public of all age groups, aimed to increase public engagement in promoting mental well-being as well as public knowledge and understanding of mental health. The Campaign promoted mental health through mass media and the organisation of various publicity activities in the community. 4. The Government announced in the 2018 Policy Address that it has earmarked an annual funding of $50 million to embark on an on-going mental health promotion and public education initiative. The first phase of the new initiative aims to ride on the success of the “Joyful@HK” campaign and enhance public understanding of mental health, thereby reducing stigmatisation towards persons with mental health needs, with a view to building a mental- health friendly society in the long run. 5. Jointly organised by the Advisory Committee on Mental Health and DH, the “Shall We Talk” initiative was officially launched in July 2020. A one-stop thematic website has been set up, providing information on mental wellbeing, common mental health problems, treatment, help-seeking, community support and activities.
    [Show full text]