Press Releases
Senior health officials hold tripartite meeting to exchange views on public health issues (with photos)
The 15th Joint Meeting of Senior Health Officials of the
Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao was held in Hong Kong today
(November 28), during which senior health officials and
experts of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau shared
experiences and exchanged views on two important health
issues, namely vector-borne diseases and the tiered medical
system.
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
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