35
(b)
Medical and Health Services
62.
The medical and health field is another area
where. in the past.
tal fo
concentrated an mooting busic needs.
We achieved remarkable
successes. Life expectancy in Hong
Kong for both men and women is now higher than in many
advanced countries,
United Kingdom. Our
in either. Now we
including the United Ötates and clie
infant mortality rates are lower than
should raise our sights.
Our new
priority must be to improve the quality of service. Our
public health service is heavily subsidised, and our
professional medical staff are dedicated and hard-working.
But Our hospitals are overcrowded, and there are long
queues at our clinics. We do not always provide our
community with the range of services that they need. In
important areas like mental health and geriatric care,
standards fall below our aspirations.
63.
world is that
The lesson of public health services all over the
increased expenditure does not necessarily
higher standards. What is really important
translate into
is the way the
are managed.
funded
It
hospitals
money is used and how well the facilities
makes no sense to have some publicly
overflowing
and
others with spare
/capacity.
62'd
S'I'
22:41 TT-01-686T