Speeches

MSHP Conference & Exhibition 2017
“Brain and Heart Attack Summit”
SFH’s welcoming speech
21 October 2017 (Sat)

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Prof Lau (Chak-sing) [President of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine], Dr Cheng (Chi-hung) [Chairman of Management Society for Healthcare Professionals], Dr Lui (Wai-man) [Chairman of organizing committee], distinguished speakers and guests, ladies and gentlemen,

 

  1. Good afternoon! It gives me great pleasure to take part in the Brain and Heart Attack Summit organized by the Management Society for Healthcare Professionals. I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all speakers and participants.
  2. Heart disease and cerebrovascular disease are leading causes of death around the world. In Hong Kong, they are the third and fourth most common cause of death after cancer and pneumonia. Faced with a rapidly ageing population, our strive to achieve good health, especially cardiovascular health will be a growing concern in our society.
  3. To address these challenges, first of all, the Government will deploy sufficient resources to enhance our supporting healthcare infrastructure. The Government and the Hospital Authority will press ahead with the delivery of the 10-year hospital development plan, for which $200 billion has been earmarked, to strengthen our hospital facilities.
  4. Currently, public hospitals provide the majority of the in-patient cardiac and stroke services, including diagnostic service, intervention as well as acute care and rehabilitation service to patients. HA has been investing resources to strengthen cardiac care. Since 2002, HA has gradually set up 15 stroke units in acute hospitals to enhance stroke care management to patients so that they can benefit from early intervention. There are now around 260 acute stroke beds among the seven clusters of public hospitals.
  5. Moreover, in 2016, the second Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory was set up in Princess Margaret Hospital, which has also implemented the 24-hour thrombolytic service for acute ischaemic stroke patients to improve acute stroke management. As part of the initiatives to promote treatment with integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, there are now seven hospitals under HA participating in the pilot scheme to provide stroke care using integrated Chinese and western medicine.
  6. The prevention of brain and heart attack must begin in our daily life. Our Department of Health has been promoting healthy diet, physical activities participation and reduction of alcohol-related harm, reduction of salt and sugar in food. We have also adopted a combination of legislation, taxation, publicity, education, enforcement, as well as smoking cessation services to enhance tobacco control. To enhance the coverage of bystander resuscitation and improve the outcome of treatment of sudden cardiac arrest, we have also established a committee across all relevant sectors and specialties to promote such training and importance of the deployment of AED equipment in community facilities.
  7. On the other hand, the Chief Executive in the 2017 Policy Address has announced the development of a comprehensive and co-ordinated primary healthcare system which aims to encourage the public to take precautionary measures against diseases, enhance their capability in self-care and home care, and reduce the demand for hospitalization. Primary health care providers are ideally positioned to support and empower individuals and families in control of their health. The provision of continuing, preventive, comprehensive and patient-centred health care requires the collaboration of various healthcare providers.
  8. I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the MSHP for advancing and promoting healthcare services and patient care through processional and better management. I also thank the Society for organizing this Conference and Exhibition which provides an excellent platform for over 200 participants from different professions including cardiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, interventional neuro-radiologists, health administrators, ambulance service providers, stroke nurses and cardiac nurses to share their views and experience in aborting and preventing heart and cerebrovascular diseases.
  9. As the Secretary for Food and Health, to safeguard public health, provide quality medical services, ensure food safety and environmental hygiene will be top priorities on my health agenda. My team and I will continue to work hard for the betterment of Hong Kong. Thank you.
12 Apr 2019