Department of Health (Hong Kong)

Hong Kong's Department of Health (Chinese: 衞生署) is responsible for healthcare policies and the provision of basic healthcare services and established in 1939. The public hospitals are managed by the department's Hospital Authority. The department reports to the Food and Health Bureau.

Main article: Health in Hong Kong
Department of Health
衞生署
Agency overview
Headquarters21/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East Wan Chai Hong Kong Island
Employees4,669
Annual budgetHK$$5.3012 billion (2012–13)
Agency executive
  • Dr Constance Chan, JP, Director of Health
Parent agencyFood and Health Bureau
Websitewww.dh.gov.hk
Politics and government
of Hong Kong
Related topics
 Hong Kong portal

The department is headed by the Director of Health, a position currently held by Dr Hon Yee Chan.

History

In the past, health and medical issues (including hospital management) fell under the purview of the Medical and Health Department. This changed with reforms to Hong Kong's healthcare system in the late 1980s. In October 1987, Governor David Wilson officially announced the government's intention to establish a new, semi-independent Hospital Authority, which would be administered by a new Hospital Services Department (HSD).[1] In April 1989, the Medical and Health Department was split into the Department of Health and the Hospital Services Department.[2] The Hospital Authority was set up in 1990.

Structure

The Department of Health provides its broad range and diverse services to Hongkongers through different divisions, offices, and centres. The following is a list of them:

Centre for Health Protection
Child Assessment Service
Chinese Medicine
Clinical Genetic Service
Dental Service
Elderly Health Service
Family Health Service
Forensic Pathology Service
Medical Device Control Office
Methadone Clinics
Office for Registration of Healthcare Institutions
Pharmaceutical Service
Port Health
Professional Development and Quality Assurance
Radiation Health Unit
Registration of Health Professionals
Student Health Service
Tobacco Control Office

Drug registration in Hong Kong

Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Chapter 138), the Department of Health's Drug Office is responsible for drug registration in Hong Kong. All drugs sold in Hong Kong are required to be registered with a number, which consists of the prefix 'HK' followed by five digits (e.g. HK-05628).[3]

See also

References
  1. Quon, Ann; Fong, Bernard (8 October 1987). "Policies for the people". South China Morning Post. p. 1.
  2. Lee, S.H. (2014). "Historical perspectives in public health: experiences from Hong Kong". In Griffiths, Siân M. (ed.). Routledge Handbook of Global Public Health in Asia. Abingdon: Routledge. p. 11.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 March 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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