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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1975
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REVISION OF MEDICAL CHARGES
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THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS APPROVED RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO REVISE CERTAIN CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS,
THE REVISED CHARGES, TO TAKE EFFECT FROM NOVEMBER 1, WILL INVOLVE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD CLASS BEDS AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.
UNDER THE NEW SCALE, THE DAILY CHARGE FOR A FIRST CLASS BED WILL BE INCREASED FROM $51 TO $120, FOR A SECOND CLASS BED FROM $34 TO $80 AND FOR A THIRD CLASS BED FROM $2 TO $3. IN THE CASE OF THE THIRD CLASS BEDS, IT WILL BE FURTHER INCREASED TO $5 AT A FUTURE DATE, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE M.D.A.C.
COMMENTING ON THE INCREASES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THEY WERE NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN THE COST OF MAINTAINING A HOSPITAL BED SINCE THE LAST REVISION OF CHARGES IN 1961.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE COST OF MAINTAINING A HOSPITAL BED NOW AMOUNTED TO $161 A DAY.
FOR THIRD CLASS PATIENTS MEALS ALONE COST $4.63 PER DAY, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT FOR THOSE PATIENTS WHO COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY THE THIRD CLASS CHARGES EITHER FULLY OR PARTIALLY, THERE WOULD STILL EXIST A REMITTING SYSTEM UNDER WHICH THE CHARGES MAY BE WAIVED ON THE ADVICE OF THE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS IN ALL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.
THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS ALSO DECIDED THAT THE $1 CHARGE FOR OUTPATIENTS ATTENDING GOVERNMENT CLINICS WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED, BUT PATIENTS WHO ATTEND THE TREATMENT ROOM FOR INJECTIONS, DRESSINGS ETC. AFTER THE INITIAL CONSULTATION WILL BE CHARGED $1 A TIME. HOWEVER, THESE CHARGES COULD ALSO BE WAIVED.
SERVICES FOR TUBERCULOSIS. SOCIAL HYGIENE AND MATERNAL AND
CHILD HEALTH WILL CONTINUE TO BE FREE.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE OPERATIVE DATE OF NOVEMBER 1 HAD BEEN CHOSEN TO COINCIDE WITH THE EXPECTED OPENING OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WHICH WILL ADD A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF HOSPITAL BEDS TO THE EXISTING MEDICAL SERVICES.
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