Wednesday, November 14, 1973
15
SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME
Participating Pupils Now Number More Than 70,750
Children taking part in the School Medical Service during the
academic year 1972/73 totalled 70,758, according to the annual report of
the School Medical Service Board tabled in the Legislative Council today.
The children came from 700 schools throughout the Colony, and
were looked after by 181 doctore.
Of the total figure of participating pupils, 32,306 were under
eight years of age, 16,824 were under 10, 16,210 under 12, and 5,418 older
than 12.
Under the terms of the revised scheme which went into effect on
October 1, 1972, pupils in kindergartens were excluded, and participation
is now limited to pupils in primary schools, and secondary schools up to
Form III. The revision brought the scheme into line with the Government's
policy of providing nine years of aided education.
The School Medical Service provides economical medical treatment
among normally healthy children. It is voluntary, and participating doctors
are private medical practitioners. They receive $25 a shild a year
from the child, and $20 from the Government.
$5
The Service is subvented by the Government. On an enrolment of
70,758 at $20 a head, and taking into account administrative expenses, the
cost to the Government is now $1.6 million a year.
/The report