Hong Kong 2006

Including the disease prevention efforts made by the maternal and child health centres and elderly health centres mentioned above, the Department of Health spent $1,182.8 million on disease prevention and control.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) was set up under the Department of Health on 1 June 2004, with the mission of achieving effective prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Hong Kong in collaboration with local and international stakeholders.

Much effort has been put into the development of information systems, including launching of the Public Health Information System and the Laboratory Information System. A consultancy study has been conducted to draw up a development plan for the Communicable Disease Information System that enables real-time data exchange on communicable diseases among different sectors in the community.

To enhance laboratory services, the centre has strengthened diagnostic capacity, epidemiological surveillance, data analysis and detection sensitivity, as well as laboratory safety and quality assurance. By strengthening control of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection, protection against and prevention of known diseases were also reinforced. In order to pool professional expertise, a Board of Scientific Advisers with seven Scientific Committees was set up. Training and research programmes were launched regularly.

In addition to formulation of risk communication strategies and action plans for the centre, communication with the community was strengthened through support from District Councils, educational campaigns and publicity programmes. Local, regional and international collaborative work, including meetings, international symposium, video links and attachment/exchange programmes, were carried out to reinforce networks with other health authorities and agencies in the Mainland, Macao and other places, as well as the World Health Organisation, to share professional knowledge and experience in combating diseases.

To enhance government and community preparedness to cope with major outbreaks of infectious diseases, the Centre for Health Protection has developed and updated preparedness plans on various infectious diseases. To build up surge capacity, a mechanism for mobilising volunteers in the private and voluntary sectors during major public health emergencies has been developed.

Furthermore, the centre has conducted and participated in drills and exercises to enhance emergency preparedness and response of relevant departments and agencies for infectious disease outbreaks. In September 2006, Exercise CYPRESS was conducted in collaboration with the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, the Hospital Authority and the Fire Services Department to review frontline operations in the event of human cases of avian influenza. More than 500 participants took part in the exercise, and over 30 experts from the Mainland, Macao and Hong Kong were invited to be observers. In June 2006, the centre participated in the first regional exercise on influenza pandemic organised by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to test the emergency responses and communication efficiency among APEC's member economies.

There is a need to maintain effective communication and cooperation with the Mainland and other neighbouring areas in the combat and control of infectious diseases. In November 2006, the Centre for Health Protection organised Exercise Great Wall jointly with the health authorities in the Mainland and Macao to test the emergency response and notification mechanism among the three places in handling cross-boundary public health emergencies. The Implementation Framework Article under the Cooperation Agreement on Response Mechanism for Public Health Emergencies was signed with the Ministry of Health on the Mainland and the Health Bureau of Macao in April 2006 to further enhance exchange of epidemic intelligence and collaboration among the three places in handling major public health emergencies. In addition, a cooperation agreement on emergency response mechanism was signed with the Department of Health of Guangdong and Health Bureau of Macao in June 2006 to further strengthen cooperation and communication mechanism in the fight against infectious diseases.

Under the laws of Hong Kong, there are a total of 31 notifiable infectious diseases including three quarantinable diseases, namely cholera, plague and yellow fever that require mandatory reporting. During the year, 22 555 cases of notifiable infectious diseases were reported, of which 26 per cent were due to tuberculosis.

Apart from mandatory reporting, an immunisation programme consisting of vaccination against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella, is in place for children. The incidence of many communicable diseases has been declining or has remained at relatively low levels. On the other hand, emerging and re-emerging infections such as avian influenza, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and antibiotic resistance continue to pose important challenges.

The estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Hong Kong is about 3 200. Each year, about 300 new cases of HIV infections are reported. Sexual transmission remains the most common mode of spreading the infection, and in recent years, there has been a growing concern over the rising number of HIV infections among men who have sex with men. Although HIV prevalence remains low among injecting drug users, there is a need to remain vigilant with HIV prevention efforts in this vulnerable group.

Health problems in Hong Kong are mostly associated with lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Among the leading causes of death, cancer, diseases of heart and cerebrovascular diseases together accounted for about 56.6 per cent of all registered deaths during the year. These diseases affect mainly elderly people and will continue to dominate the mortality statistics as the population ages. To reinforce protection against non-communicable diseases and environmental health hazards, the Centre of Health Protection established a Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2006.

Cancer is the top killer in Hong Kong and claimed more than 12 000 lives in 2006. A Cancer Coordinating Committee has been established to formulate comprehensive strategic plans and make recommendations for the effective prevention and control of cancer in Hong Kong.

To reduce the number of women developing and dying from cervical cancer, the Department of Health, in collaboration with other health care providers, launched a Cervical Screening Programme in 2004 to promote screening service among women aged 25 to 64. In addition, a Cervical Screening Information System (CSIS) has been developed by the Department to collect and analyse data on cervical smears. In 2006, 105 296 women have undergone cervical screening as recorded by the CSIS.

At the district level, the Hospital Authority has launched a number of disease prevention and control programmes. In 2006, it continued to enhance its fall prevention programmes by conducting district-based 'fall risk' home assessment in collaboration with NGOs and organising Tai Chi classes for elders with over 100 community organisations. To raise public awareness and understanding of hypertension and to encourage regular blood pressure measurement among citizens, the Hospital Authority also collaborated with private practitioners and community pharmacies to implement a hypertension awareness programme.