Funded by Beat Drugs Fund and established by the CUHK Department of Surgery, the Youth Urological Treatment Centre (YUTC) held its opening ceremony on 19 March at the Prince of Wales Hospital. The first of its kind in Hong Kong, YUTC provides one-stop urological assessment and treatment specifically to youth suffering from urinary tract dysfunction as a result of psychotropic substance abuse.

YUTC is jointly run by paediatric and adult urologists of the Department of Surgery with the full support of the hospital management of the New Territories East Cluster. Commencing services in December 2011, it renders day-care service to young substance abusers under the age of 30.

Psychotropic substance abuse leads to chronic inflammation in the urinary bladder, with symptoms including increased urinary frequency, urgency, painful urination, lower abdominal pain, and permanent damage to the urinary bladder resulting in permanent loss of its storage and continence function, with kidney damage and renal failure as the most serious consequences. YUTC offers a telephone hotline for fast-track appointment booking without the need for referrals by clinicians. Young patients or their social workers can simply call the hotline to make appointments across the territory. Prof. Ng Chi-fai, co-director of YUTC and professor, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, pointed out that 41 patients have consulted YUTC over the last three months. The centre will also encourage patients to quit drugs early during the treatment.