The Department of Health will reposition itself as the public health regulator and assume the role of a 'health educator', a senior health official said yesterday. Deputy Secretary for Health and Welfare Thomas Yiu Kei-chung said as a part of the public health-care reform the department would also become the Government's 'expert adviser' in disease prevention and control. Also speaking at a Legco health services panel meeting, Deputy Director of Health Dr Lam Ping-yan said the department was studying how it could take a more active role in investigating and prosecuting complaints related to health products. The department now runs clinics and provides health services, parallel to the Hospital Authority, as well as being a regulator. Lawmakers generally supported the move but said the department should take a more active role in promoting public health. Democrat Yeung Sum said officials were failing their duties as free health check-ups were not available to the public.
