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The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, will lead a delegation to visit the United Kingdom and Germany to study the latest developments in children's hospitals and neuroscience institutes before attending the 61st World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
On the first stop of his visit to London on May 14, Dr Chow will visit the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children which is a leading centre of excellence for special paediatric services and for research, evaluation and education in child health. He will then tour the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and hold discussions with senior management of the hospitals to learn more from their experience.
Dr Chow will be in Germany on the next day (May 15) for a visit to the International Neuroscience Institute and Hanover Children's Hospital in Hanover, to be followed by a visit to the Centre of Clinical Neuroscience Institute in Frankfurt on May 16.
The fact-finding trip to the UK and Germany will give the delegation a better understanding of overseas experience in running children's hospitals and neuroscience institutes. The experience drawn may help in the establishment of medical centres of excellence in paediatrics and neuroscience in Hong Kong, with a view to raising professional standards and enhancing patient care through cross-fertilisation of expertise, enhanced research and training.
Accompanying Dr Chow on the visit to the UK and Germany are the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health, Ms Sandra Lee, and the Director (Strategy and Planning) of the Hospital Authority, Dr Lo Su-vui.
After his visit to Western Europe, Dr Chow will depart for Geneva to attend the World Health Organisation's 61st World Health Assembly on May 19.
He will return to Hong Kong on May 20.
Ends/Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:26
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