WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1975
THE COST OF PROVIDING MEDICAL, AND HEALTH SERVICES IN HONG KONG
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THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. GERALD CHIOA, SAID TODAY THAT IN THE ADSENCE OF A NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE OR NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME THE EXISTING SERVICES IS THE BEST HONG KONG CAN OFFER UNDER THE PRESENT TAXATION SYSTEM.
*TO THOSE WHO ARGUE THAT WE SHOULD OPERATE A FREE SERVICE, OURS IS ALREADY AS NEAR A FREE SERVICE AS CAN DE WITH THE CHARGES KEPT A A MINIMUM AND WITH GENEROUS FEE REMISSIONS, HE SAID.
HE WAS SPEAKING ON THE COST OF PROVIDING THE EXISTING MEDICAL AID HEALTH SERVICES DURING THE ROTARY CLUB OF ISLAND EAST LUNCHEON MEETING THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
DR. CHOA POINTED OUT THAT ALL NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES OR NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEMES ARE CONTRI DUTORY.
→IF WE EVER THINK OF INTRODUCING EITHER OF THESE IN HONG KONG THE FIRST CONSIDERATION WOULD BE TO MAKE EVERYBODY CONTRIBUTE,+ HE SAID.
→1 CANNOT DELIEVE THERE WOULD DE NO OPPOSITION, HE ADDED.
DR. CHOA CITED AS AN EXAMPLE THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN VRICH INCOME FROM CENTRAL INLAND REVENUE TAXATION IS APPLIED TO THE UPKEEP OF HOSPITAL AND FAMILY DOCTOR SERVICES EITHER BY DIRECT OR INDIRECT GOVERLLENT GRANTS UNDER VARIOUS STATUES AND REGULATIONS.
THIS MEANT THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE AND FURTHERMORE IN SPITE OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS THEY HAVE TO PAY CHARGES FOR SPECTACLES, DENTURES AND OTHER APPLIANCES, AND ALSO FOR FILLING A PRESCRIPTION, HE SAID.
THE NHS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHER SOCIAL DENEFITS DESIDES MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES NOW ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN ONE-TENTH OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE AND HAVE CERTAINLY PROVED TO DE VERY EXPENSIVE TO ITS GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED.
IN HONG KONG, SAID DR. CHOA, THE GOVERNMENT HAD BUILT UP OVER THE YEARS A VERY COMPREHENSİVE SERVICE FOR THE COM-UNITY, WHICH BASICALLY CONSISTED OF THREE PANTS HEALTII SERVICE, AMBULATORY MEDICAL SERVICE, AND HOSPITAL AND SPECIALISTS SĒRVICE.
AWE CAN CLAIM THAT THE FULL RANGE OF PREVENTIVE AS WELL AS CURATIVE MEDICINE IS AVAILABLE TO THE OVER FOUR MILLION POPULATION IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
TO PROIVDE SUCH A COMPRÉHENSIVE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO SPEND DURING THIS FINANCIAL YEAR A TOTAL OF NEARLY $590 MILLION.
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