Press Releases
SFH on influenza
Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, after attending the Ninth Joint
Meeting of Senior Health Officials of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao held
in Hong Kong this afternoon (January 28):
Secretary for Food and Health: Today we have the Joint Meeting of Senior
Health Officials of Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. We have discussed a
variety of issues, particularly relating to healthcare reform, regulation of
medicine, as well as promotion and development of Chinese medicine. We have
also touched on other subjects relating to the co-operation of the
tripartite governments as well as progress of our healthcare reforms in
future. The ministers have also mentioned about the progress of the Mainland
and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). Since its
introduction, there are increasing investments of Hong Kong healthcare
organisations in Guangdong.
Reporter: (on the increasing number of influenza cases)
Secretary for Food and Health: Hong Kong is stepping into the peak of the
influenza season this winter. We expect that the peak will last for at least
six to eight weeks, that means this will at least last until the end of
February. The main concern is whether there will be increasing number of
hospital admissions and complications. As far as the virus is concerned, the
virus we have isolated so far has no significant change in terms of its
genetic make-ups. It is still the same H1N1 virus, the so-called swine flu
virus that we encountered in 2009. This virus actually responds to all the
anti-virals that we have stocked and the medicine we have prepared. The
concern about the complications is regarding to the manpower and facilities
in the various hospitals. We are monitoring the number of people that are
admitted to the intensive care units in various hospitals and it was roughly
between 15 and 20 everyday. And we expect this might climb up slightly in
the coming weeks. But the number of people who have recovered from intensive
care is also quite significant. I think the most important thing is that if
we encounter any serious illness, we should admit them and treat them
appropriately as soon as possible.
Reporter: (on opening of flu clinics)
Secretary for Food and Health: The reason why we had the influenza clinics
in 2009 was that it was a new virus at that time. We are concerned whether
it would be unpredictable and would change rapidly and so on. This is the
reason why we need to segregate people in the clinics. But for influenza
season, like every other season, the main thing is we should advise the
public to look after themselves, and if necessary, we will look after them
in the hospitals as appropriate. There is no indication for establishing
special clinics at this moment of time because every time we establish those
clinics, we will also sacrifice a lot of other services for non-influenza
patients.
Reporter: (on manpower in public hospitals during the flu peak)
Secretary for Food and Health: All the hospitals have contingency plans
regarding the management of upsurge of admissions. It is always a
phenomenon, particularly during the Chinese New Year season and also because
some of the private doctors are going on holiday, that we have more patients
coming to our accident and emergency units and more admissions. The
hospitals would make arrangement for particularly a few specialties to stay
behind and expand its facilities if necessary, like the department of
medicine, department of paediatrics and geriatric. This will require certain
reserved staff to be stand-by and it is also relating to the management of
the leaves of staff or encashment of the leaves.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, January 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:47
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