Hong Kong – Hospital Authority welcomes “The Chief Executive’s 2022 Policy Address”
Hospital Authority welcomes “The Chief Executive’s 2022 Policy Address”
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, welcomed the “The Chief Executive’s 2022 Policy Address” delivered by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (October 19). It is expected that the healthcare initiatives outlined in the Policy Address shall enhance the quality of public healthcare services, strengthen support to patients and reinforce the sustainable development of public healthcare.
The HA will fully collaborate with the Government on its announced primary care policies and strategies, so as to strengthen its support to patients with chronic diseases, improve service quality and provide sustainable and comprehensive medical services to the public. The HA will introduce various measures to enhance services in the specialist out-patient clinics, shorten waiting times and streamline the cross-specialty and multi-disciplinary consultation services for the betterment of the patients’ journeys. The HA will also take forward the telehealth service and the smart hospital initiative, by increasing technological elements in ward, clinic and drug management so as to provide patients with more convenient and quality healthcare services whilst increasing the capacity of the public healthcare service to promote its sustainable development.
Mr Fan said, “Telehealth is the HA’s key development project. We will continue to enhance telehealth services, and promote multi-disciplinary consultation services. Telehealth not only makes follow-up consultations more convenient for patients, but also provides effective support to patients living in remote areas and those with difficulties in mobility. To facilitate the development of telehealth, the HA will extend its drug delivery service and launch measures such as electronic sick leave and attendance certificates, allowing patients to enjoy greater convenience and flexibility.”
The HA has always been in support of the Government to promote Chinese medicine (CM). The HA is delighted to learn that the Government has endorsed the regularisation of the Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine Pilot Programme, and is extending it to different hospitals and categories of disease. The HA will increase the quotas of government subsidised CM services that enhance primary care services through the CM Clinic cum Training and Research Centre in the 18 districts.
With the Government’s staunch support, the HA will also enhance diagnosis and treatment services, including the establishment of the Integrated Neuroscience Centres and Cardiovascular Diseases Centres, the Uncommon Disorders Registry and the Poison Control Centre, to support patients with cancer, uncommon disorders and genetic disorders. In addition, the HA will expand the Integrated Discharge Support Programme for Elderly Patients, so as to support discharged elderly people on their home rehabilitation.
The HA will continue to utilise its resources in executing hospital development, expansion and redevelopment projects, increasing capacity for beds and operating theatres, and commissioning service. By implementing various measures, namely extending the employment beyond retirement programme, refining the career ladder and increasing promotion and training opportunities, the HA aims to retain staff and attract talent to join the public hospitals.
Mr Fan expressed heartfelt appreciation for the Government’s support for the public healthcare service. The HA will strive to implement the initiatives for the benefit of patients.
CHICAGO – WEBWIRE – Wednesday, June 8, 2022 In a legal challenge to a public health mask order, the American Medical Association (AMA) defended the authority of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to enact reasonable, evidence-based public health measures that curb the spread of illness and protect those at highest risk from serious harm.
An AMA amicus brief (PDF) filed in Health Freedom Defense Fund v. Biden urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to reverse a district courts order striking down the CDCs public transportation mask order on a nationwide basis.
The CDCs core mission of protecting the public from serious illness, injury, and death requires that public health officials have the ability to exercise reasonable judgment in the face of evolving conditions and the authority to enact evidence-based measures when necessary, said AMA President Gerald E. Harmon, M.D. The AMA is urging the court to acknowledge the CDCs authority to enact measures to protect the publics health , recognizing that health authorities have the expertise to make determinations that promote public health in rapidly evolving circumstances.
As part of its mission to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health, the AMA works in the courts to support evidence-based measures that reduce the risk of infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 and ensure the health and safety of our nations workforces, families, and communities.
About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
Housing Authority endeavours to allocate public housing flats
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Hospital Authority appreciates generous donation from MTR Corporation (with photo)
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Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held on April 19
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AMA defends CDC authority in pandemic response
Hong Kong – Housing Authority endeavours to allocate public housing flats
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
In response to media enquiries on vacant flats in completed public rental housing (PRH) estates of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), a spokesman for the Housing Department issued the following statement today (May 30):
The number of vacant flats in PRH estates varies daily depending on circumstances. Domestic flats are recovered from time to time in PRH estates. They will be used for allocation to meet various purposes in accordance with the annual allocation plan, such as to PRH applicants on the waiting list, for rehousing use for redevelopment projects and various types of transfer exercises, including transfer of overcrowded households. During the period from recovery to successful allocation, temporary vacancy may occur due to various reasons, for example, renovation works or refurbishment being in progress, awaiting replies from applicants under offer, pending re-allocation of refused offers to other applicants, pooling flats for transfer schemes’ allocation or being reserved for internal transfer of households on social, medical or compassionate grounds.
The above situation is normal in the allocation process and hence the number of vacant flats varies every day. The HA will adhere to the principle of optimising public housing resources and allocate lettable rental flats to various categories of applicants as soon as possible.
For flats that are less popular with the applicants and have been vacant for some time, the Housing Department will make use of the Express Flat Allocation Scheme (EFAS) to invite eligible applicants, who have been on the waiting list for one year or more, to select flats in accordance with their priority. EFAS is launched around the middle of each year, having regard to the housing resources available. In addition to assisting PRH applicants to move into PRH flats earlier, EFAS also helps let the less popular PRH flats to optimise the public housing resources.
Moreover, pockets of narrow spaces are found in domestic blocks of some PRH estates completed in earlier years. Most of them have been used as storerooms and vacant bays in the estates. The Housing Department has been keeping in view the usage of these storerooms and vacant bays and exploring various ways for better utilisation of these spaces, including converting them to PRH flats or other non-domestic use, subject to the compliance with related laws and regulations, technical feasibility, environmental constraints, lease restrictions and obtaining approvals, etc.
Through enhanced provisions of natural lighting and ventilation, the Housing Department has in recent years successfully identified suitable storerooms/vacant bays for conversion to about 130 public housing flats. Amongst them, about 110 have already had the conversion works completed, while the remaining 20 or so are expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year.
Hong Kong – Hospital Authority appreciates generous donation from MTR Corporation (with photo)
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) today (May 27) expressed heartfelt appreciation to the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) for its generous donation of 10 000 tickets of MTR City Saver for frontline supporting staff, as well as over 46 000 Airport Express tickets to on-duty healthcare workers for their travel between the AsiaWorld-Expo station and the urban area.
The MTRCL Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jacob Kam, paid tribute to healthcare personnel for their selfless dedication and professionalism to safeguard citizens’ health. He said that the MTRCL will continue to join other sectors of the community to fight off the epidemic at the earliest time and keep Hong Kong moving.
The HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, said, “We express heartfelt gratitude to the MTRCL for its continuous support and encouragement to our staff in fighting against the epidemic since 2020. Their timely and kind initiatives have given staunch support and enormous encouragement to all our staff. The move is a recognition of our efforts during the fight against the epidemic.”
The HA expresses appreciation to the MTRCL.
Hong Kong – Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held on April 19
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
Tenders to be held on April 19:
Tender date
:
April 19, 2022
Paper on offer
:
EF Bills
Issue number
:
Q2216
Issue date
:
April 20, 2022
Maturity date
:
July 20, 2022
Tenor
:
91 Days
Amount on offer
:
HK$65,712 MN
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Tender date
:
April 19, 2022
Paper on offer
:
EF Bills
Issue number
:
H2245
Issue date
:
April 20, 2022
Maturity date
:
October 19, 2022
Tenor
:
182 Days
Amount on offer
:
HK$17,000 MN
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