Ready to serve: Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Leung Pak-yin (centre) and heads of the six branches have a meeting before the centre's launch.

The protection of public health in Hong Kong will be enhanced following the launch of the Centre for Health Protection tomorrow.

Established under the Department of Health, the centre's ultimate vision is to become a centre of excellence in disease prevention and control.

Six functional branches have been set up in the centre. They include:

*Surveillance & Epidemiology Branch;

*Infection Control Branch;

*Emergency Response & Information Branch;

*Public Health Services Branch;

*Public Health Laboratory Services Branch; and

*Programme Management & Professional Development Branch.

Centre to address new challenges

Through an in-depth analysis of the existing health protection system, the centre's focus will be on epidemiology training, surveillance, risk communication, research, coordination and preparedness,and contingency planning.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong said the centre has been set up to enhance existing diseases control strategies and address new challenges.

"By harnessing and consolidating the professional knowledge and expertise in combating infectious diseases, the centre will be better placed to co-ordinate and take appropriate measures to tackle health threats and respond to outbreaks."

The Department of Health's structure has been reviewed and services divisions re-orangised in the past few months to facilitate the centre's set up.

Re-organisation to facilitate centre establishment

Under the new structure, the four regional offices which are responsible for the investigation of infectious disease outbreaks will be merged with effect from tomorrow and put under the centre's Surveillance & Epidemiology Branch.

The centre's Controller Dr Leung Pak-yin said the arrangement will ensure a better communication and co-ordination between the frontline staff and the centre management as well as among the centre and other stakeholders in the event of an outbreak.

In fact, staff of the Surveillance & Epidemiology Branch together with the Infection Control Branch have already moved to the centre's new office in Argyle Street to prepare for the new challenges.

Because of the need to provide physical accommodation and develop the information technology system, it will take some time before all the six branches in the centre will be in place.

It is expected that all the centre's functional elements will be operating fairly smoothly by 2005.

"In the event of an outbreak, the centre will be equipped for timely and effective risk communication, prompt response and activating surge capacity in collaboration with parties involved," Dr Leung said.

Board of Scientific Advisers established

An important development of the centre's structure is the establishment of a high level Board of Scientific Advisers, supported by seven scientific committees each looking at major groups of infections, as well as the setting up of cross-cutting health protection programmes that examine, deliberate and develop disease prevention and control strategies and plans.

Experts from various disciplines, organisations and sectors will be invited to share and contribute their views on health issues that are of major public health importance.