Chinese health sector delegation from Zhejiang visits Perth

22/9/97

A high profile Chinese delegation representing both the public and private health sector from Zhejiang province will spend this week examining Perth's leading health care facilities.

The delegation, led by the Minister of Zhejiang Provincial Health Bureau, Mr Zhang Chen-lie, will visit Royal Perth Hospital, Princess Margaret and King Edward Hospitals, the Concept Fertility Clinic, Edith Cowan University's nurse education centre and the Health Promotion branch of the Health Department of Western Australia.

The group is in Perth at the invitation of Health Minister Kevin Prince, who visited the People's Republic of China in May 1996.

"I am delighted that the delegation has accepted my invitation and I hope that the time they spend in Perth is enjoyable and worthwhile," Mr Prince said.

"The group has identified numerous areas of interest within WA's health care system and the tour has been arranged accordingly.

"It will provide the group with an opportunity to examine first-hand, the range of world-class hospital and health educational facilities and medical services and expertise available in WA.

"They will tour the highly specialised areas at Royal Perth Hospital including the heart/liver transplant unit, accident and emergency and the burns unit as well as the intensive care unit and the unit dedicated to treating congenital heart deformity in infants at Princess Margaret Hospital and a host of other areas."

Mr Prince said WA had developed a strong interest in the People's Republic of China, particularly since the formation of a sister-state relationship with the Zhejiang Province in 1987.

A delegation of WA business people, led by Deputy Premier and Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan, is currently visiting Zhejiang for a WA-Zhejiang Economic Exchange Committee meeting.

The Health Department of WA signed a memorandum of understanding with the People's Republic of China Bureau of Public Health during Mr Prince's visit last year.

Under that agreement, the State has offered to provide assistance to:

+ establish leading institutions in the delivery of health and medical services;

+ facilitate education programs designed to enhance the skills and technology of staff; and -

+ collaborate in research.

The group - which includes a thoracic surgeon, paediatric surgeon and urologist - will return to China on Friday.

The Consul of the People's Republic of China for WA, Mr Shugeng Li, and the Consul General of the People's Republic of China for WA, Mr Cai Chuan, will accompany the group during their four-day visit.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 9221 1377