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Wednesday, August 2, 1972
NO CHANGE IN POLICY OF SUBVENTIONS TO CLINICS
Not one of the 428 clinics registered or exempt from registration
under the Medical Clinics Ordinance is suffering from hardship, and not one
has closed as a result of financial loss in operating costs.
Doctor the Hon. G.H. Choa, Director of Medical and Health Services,
gave the Legislative Council this reason today when he explained why he did not consider it necessary that all medical clinics should in future
be subvented from public funds.
But if any were experiencing financial or other difficulties, he
would welcome details. Each case would then be considered, and appropriate
advice and assistance given to sponsors.
He was replying to a question by the Hon. F.W. Li who had asked
whether the Government would consider granting subventions to medical clinics
run by approved non-profit-making social welfare agencies.
Dr. Choa said since the Medical Clinics Ordinance came into effect
in 1964, examination of the accounts of 428 of them had not revealed any
case of hardship.
He explained that some of these agencies were in fact receiving sub
ventions from the Government for their activities, and also other help.
An example of the latter was the fact that clinics situated in the
welfare blocks of resettlement estates were being charged a nominal rent of
only $1 a month.
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