ABSTRACT
Informal health care provided in the form of unpaid labour has long been an important part of the health care system. In actual practice, informal health care refers to informal diagnosis and treatment of acute illness, actions implemented to nurse the sick or manage the symptoms of chronic illness or disability, and also daily ‘routines’ and measures used to promote health maintenance and prevent diseases; it includes both aspects of care-for-others and self-care. The Health and Welfare Branch and the Hospital Authority have identified two major issues confronting the Hong Kong’s health care system: the disproportionate increase of the population of older people and the prevalence of chronic illness. Paradoxically, the heavy users of public medicine are subjects to be blamed and ‘cared’ for at the same time. According to the conception of the Hospital Authority, community or informal carers refer to a diversity of carers, both paid and unpaid.
