Press Releases
SFH meets Obstetrics and Paediatrics doctors
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, today (April 1) met medical
staff of public hospitals to exchange views on undue stress on local
obstetrics and neonatal services arising from the increasing number of
pregnant Mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong.
Dr Chow expressed his deep concern over the rising trend of babies born in
Hong Kong by Mainland mothers in recent years, the number of which rose from
13,000 in 2004 to over 40,000 in 2010.
"It really puts pressure on our obstetrics services and neonatal intensive
care units, and even may be the paediatrics services, and we need to address
the issue in respect of patients' safety and in the interests of local
expectant mothers," Dr Chow said.
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He thanked the medical staff of the services concerned in the public
hospitals for their dedication in maintaining quality services during such
challenging times.
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The medical staff expressed their concern over heavy workloads and shortage
of manpower in the respective services in the public sector, and called for
reasonable restrictions on the use of obstetric services by pregnant
Mainland women in private hospitals.
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In response, Dr Chow reiterated that the Government, the Hospital Authority
(HA) and the private medical sector should work together to explore every
possible means to tackle the problem.
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"The health care of local expectant mothers should not be compromised under
any circumstances. The HA will reserve sufficient places for local pregnant
women to ensure that they have priority over non-local pregnant women in the
use of obstetric services," he said.
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�@�@Noting that the HA would stop making bookings for non-local pregnant women
once service capacity is reached in public hospitals, Dr Chow called on the
private medical sector to take into account their maternity services
capacity when offering services to non-local pregnant women.
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"We will meet representatives from private hospitals next week to see what
remedial measures can be worked out on their side.
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"With the concerted effort of all the parties concerned, we hope a
multi-pronged solution can be formulated to address the issue.
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"We must ensure that professional standards of obstetric care are maintained
and ensure the continuation of our medical ethics," Dr Chow said.
Ends/Friday, April 1, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:25
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