Macau Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long says that his bureau is aiming to open its health station in the Macau New Neighbourhood (MNN) residential estate on Zhuhai’s Hengqin island in November.
Dr Lo made the announcement during a press conference at Government Headquarters on Friday, chaired by Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon, who is also the spokesman for the local government’s top advisory Executive Council, where Cheong and the health chief said that the local government has drawn up a new administrative regulation amending the Health Bureau’s existing organisational structure, statutorily enabling the bureau to set up, manage and operate health stations in the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
The bureau’s amended organisational structure will take effect on the day after its promulgation in the Official Gazette (BO).
Government-drafted administrative regulations, informally known as by-laws, do not require the legislature’s approval.
In addition to shops, the MNN neighbourhood also includes community facilities comprising a school, a health station, a family and community service centre, and a service centre for senior citizens.
The MNN estate’s school, run by Macau’s Hou Kong Middle School, started operating early this month. The school is officially known as Hengqin School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School.
Both the family and community service centre and the senior citizens’ service centre in the MNN neighbourhood started operating in June this year, run by the Macau Women’s General Association (known as Fu Luen in Cantonese) and the Macau General Union of Neighbourhood Associations (known as Kai Fong in Cantonese) respectively.
3 major tasks
During Friday’s press conference, Dr Lo noted that the upcoming operational start of the MNN health station requires the completion of three major tasks. Firstly, he said, the health station has already been granted a licence to operate as a medical institution in the mainland, and its decoration has also been completed.
Secondly, Dr Lo said, his bureau has chosen 10 of its health workers to operate the MNN health station.
Dr Lo said that the third task is a still outstanding one where his bureau is waiting for the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration (GDMPA) to grant permission for 296 pharmaceutical products currently used in Macau to be delivered to the MNN health station. The health chief said that he expected the formalities to be completed in one and a half months, because of which the health station can open in November, he said.
The MNN project was developed by the Macau government-owned Macau Urban Renewal Limited (MUR). MNN home sales started on November 28 last year after the project had been fully completed.
As of early this month, about 1,300 MNN flats had been sold, according to local media reports at that time.
Macau residents aged 18 or over are eligible to buy an MNN flat, regardless of whether they own any residential properties in Zhuhai or Macau.
Model of Macau’s health centres
During Friday’s press conference, Dr Lo underlined that the MNN health station will provide MNN residents with health services in compliance with the operation model of Macau’s public health centres.
The health chief said that the MNN health station will operate with the same opening hours as Macau’s public health centres, namely between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, pointing out that Macau residents will enjoy free services at the MNN health station.
According to Dr Lo, the MNN health station will provide walk-in outpatient diagnosis and treatment for the most common acute diseases such as the common cold and gastroenteritis.
The same as Macau’s public health centres, Dr Lo said, doctors at the MNN health station will refer patients needing specialty medical services to Macau’s public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre or the new Macao Union Hospital.
Meanwhile, Friday’s press conference also announced that the government will merge its Committee on Chronic Disease Prevention and Control and its Health Committee for Border Checkpoints with its Healthy City Committee, with the aim of promoting the development of Macau’s big health sector and enabling the government to achieve the goals listed in its newly drawn-up Healthy Macau Blueprint and its current policy of streamlining its public administration.
The merged Healthy City Committee will take effect on November 1.
Health Bureau (SSM) Director Alvis Lo Iek Long addresses Friday’s Executive Council press conference at Government Headquarters. – Photo courtesy of TDM
