The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (June 29) that the authority will take up the Clinical Genetic Service currently under the Department of Health (DH) from July 1 to dovetail with the latest developments of genomic medicine in Hong Kong and strengthen the provision of one-stop multi-disciplinary support for patients with genetic diseases and their families.
The HA will take up the services of the Genetic Counselling Clinic, the Genetic Screening Clinic, Neonatal Screening and Genetic Laboratory. From July 1, patients who need follow-up services at the Genetic Counseling Clinic of the DH will be transferred to the Clinical Genetics Service Unit (CGSU) of Hong Kong Children's Hospital (HKCH) for consultation. In the future, new cases from public or private hospitals will be directly referred to HKCH's CGSU for follow-up. The patients concerned and private hospitals have been notified of the new arrangements.
In addition, HKCH's CGSU and the Department of Pathology will take up genetic screening and neonatal screening services respectively with effect from July 1. The hospital will support the Neonatal Screening Programme by screening glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiencies and congenital hypothyroidisms for all newborn babies delivered in public hospitals.
As for the existing services provided by the DH's Genetic Laboratory, this will also be handed over to HKCH's Department of Pathology by December this year.
The HA spokesman said, "Patients can receive one-stop genetic diagnostic service, treatment, subsequent management as well as counselling and prevention when the HA takes up the services, which will be a key milestone in hastening the development of genomic medicine in Hong Kong to benefit patients with genetic diseases and their families."
The HA will keep in view the development of genetic services so as to address the service demand in the future. Continuous efforts will also be made to build up talent and expertise in the HA to deliver advanced genetic services.
For information on the HA's CGSU, please visit the HKCH website (www31.ha.org.hk/hkch/Patients/Services/CGSU).
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