Senior health officials hold tripartite meeting to exchange views on public health issues (with photos)
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Speaking at the meeting, the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, said the large flow of people among the three places warrants the need to maintain close collaboration and liaison on medical and health issues to ensure that medical and health challenges can be jointly tackled by the three places in a timely and efficient manner. The Joint Meeting is an important platform to foster exchanges and co-operation among the three places.
He also briefly shared the situation and experience of Hong Kong in respect of the issues on vector-borne diseases and the tiered medical system.
Dr Ko pointed out that the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, being situated in Asia, are part of a region that often faces threats posed by mosquito-borne diseases. In Hong Kong, the Government has implemented a series of regular measures to prevent and control mosquito-borne diseases, including surveillance, investigation and control, monitoring of outbreaks in other places, inter-departmental collaboration and community participation, port health and travel health measures, and public education. In addition, Hong Kong's Department of Health has been regularly exchanging information on epidemics with the National Health and Family Planning Commission as well as the Guangdong and Macau authorities. They closely monitor the latest developments of diseases and work together to prevent and control mosquito-borne diseases.
On the tiered medical system, Dr Ko introduced to the attendees the provision of different tiers of public healthcare services by the Hospital Authority through its hospital cluster system and service network.
"After years of exchanges and co-operation, the three places have established a sound mechanism for information sharing and collaboration. This has laid a good foundation for the three places to formulate long-term and sustainable medical and healthcare policies, which are essential to protecting public health and establishing a sound public healthcare system," Dr Ko said.
The Mainland and Macau delegations were respectively led by the Minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, Ms Li Bin, and the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region, Mr Tam Chon-weng. Other Hong Kong participants included the Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Mr Patrick Nip; the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan; the Chairman of the Hospital Authority, Professor John Leong; and the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Leung Pak-yin.
Ends/Monday, November 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:13
Issued at HKT 18:13
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