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Author Archives: hksar gov

LegCo to debate motion on promoting healthcare reform

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (June 5) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on promoting healthcare reform.

     The motion, to be moved by Mr Chan Han-pan, states: “That the tilting of the public healthcare system towards the provision of care for patients with serious illnesses, coupled with the serious lack of comprehensive preventive healthcare services in society, has rendered it difficult for people to receive treatment at an early stage of illness; in recent years, the Hospital Authority (‘HA’) has phased out the ‘mentorship approach’ to medical practice and adopted clinical and administrative guidelines together with a mechanical management approach in managing frontline doctors, and this has imposed prolonged pressure on frontline doctors, made it difficult for them to develop team spirit, and led to a massive wastage of healthcare personnel; the aforementioned shortcomings have also caused difficulties in improving the quality of public healthcare services, and among others, problems such as excessively long waiting time for healthcare services and persistent healthcare manpower shortage have even intensified; in this connection, this Council urges the SAR Government to expeditiously promote healthcare reform to eradicate the deep-rooted deficiencies in the healthcare system; the relevant proposals include:

(1) allocating additional resources to develop comprehensive preventive healthcare services, so as to build up an integrated first line of defence in healthcare and compensate for the inadequacies in the existing healthcare system;

(2) by drawing reference from the mode of public-private healthcare partnership, incorporating private healthcare services into the development planning for a first line of defence in healthcare, so as to reduce the pressure on the public healthcare system by drawing on the strength of private healthcare;

(3) exploring the feasibility of introducing a new ‘mentorship approach’ to medical practice in HA, so as to rebuild team spirit among frontline doctors and sustain the inheritance of medical experience;

(4) reforming HA’s mechanical management approach and including the element of humanized management, so as to boost the morale of frontline healthcare personnel;

(5) adopting the principles of ‘focusing on patients’ needs’ and ‘saving patients’ time’ in reforming HA’s service mode and subsidy computation mode, so as to enable patients to receive one-stop healthcare services within a short time for a single illness or multiple illnesses without having to make repeated trips to hospitals as in the past and in turn reduce their ordeals; and

(6) developing comprehensive integrated Chinese-Western medicine services in the public healthcare system, so as to promote the diversification of public healthcare services by drawing on the strength of Chinese medicine.”

     Ms Alice Mak, Professor Joseph Lee, Dr Pierre Chan, Dr Kwok Ka-ki, Dr Helena Wong, Mr Chu Hoi-dick and Mr Shiu Ka-chun will move separate amendments to Mr Chan Han-pan’s motion.

     Mr Tony Tse will also move a motion on improving the employment terms of civil servants, enhancing the efficiency of policy implementation and promoting creativity and innovation. The motion states: “That this Council urges the Government to adopt effective measures to improve the employment terms, manpower, working environment and continuing education and training of civil servants; raise the Government’s efficiency of decision-making, decision execution and vetting and approval process, and strengthen inter-bureau and inter-departmental co-operation and coordination; and enhance middle and senior civil servants’ creative mindset and capacity to manage changes, and promote the application and research and development of innovative technology in various government departments.”

     Mr Ho Kai-ming, Mr Charles Mok, Mr Jeremy Tam and Mr Holden Chow will move separate amendments to Mr Tony Tse’s motion.

     Meanwhile, Dr Priscilla Leung will move a motion under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Arbitration (Appointment of Arbitrators and Mediators and Decision on Number of Arbitrators) (Amendment) Rules 2019 laid on the table of the Council on May 22, 2019 to the meeting of July 10, 2019.

     During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies. 

     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.

     Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. read more

East Asia

Update on cases of Legionnaires’ disease

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 3) reported the latest number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease (LD), and stressed the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, and that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.

     From May 26 to June 1, two community-acquired LD cases were reported. They are:

1. A male patient, aged 50 with good past health, who lives in Yuk Shek House, Ping Shek Estate, Clear Water Bay Road, Kwun Tong District; and
2. A male patient, aged 66 with underlying illnesses, who lives in Tower 1, Hillsborough Court, 18 Old Peak Road, Central and Western District.

     “Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to identify potential sources of infection, high-risk exposure and clusters, if any,” a spokesman for the CHP said. 

     As of June 1, 30 LD cases had been reported in 2019. In 2018 and 2017, there were 105 and 72 cases respectively. 

     “Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems leading to stagnant water; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpools and spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or vessels,” the spokesman said. 

     Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpools and spas, water fountains and home apparatus which support breathing. People may get infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.    

     Immunocompromised persons should:
 

  • Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
  • Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices. A shower may also generate small aerosols; and
  • If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers’ instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.

     The public should observe the health advice below:
 
  • Observe personal hygiene;
  • Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
  • Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
  • If a fresh water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer’s recommendations;
  • Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
  • Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
  • Seek and follow doctors’ professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
  • When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:
     1. Wear gloves and a face mask;    
     2. Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
     3. Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
     4. Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
     5. Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.

     The public may visit the CHP’s LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP’s risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD. read more

East Asia