WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1975
THIS IS ADOUT 8.9 PER CENT OF THIS YEAR'S TOTAL BUDGET ESTIMATE WHICH IS SOME $6,600 MILLION, IN RECENT YEARS THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS' SÜARE OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATE IS DETUEEN NIME TO 10 PER CENT AND EVEN THIS YEAR UHICH IS GENERALLY REGARDED AS ONE OF RECESSION, THE PROVISION HAS REGAINED ABOUT THE SAME.
WITH $590 MILLION, THE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS 10 GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND 19 GOVERNMENT-AGS|SYD) HOSPITALS WHICH PROVIDE A TOTAL OF 14,903 BEDS, AND 59 GOVERMENT CLINICS.
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THE DIRECTOR WENT ON TO EXPLAIN WHY- IT WAS NECESSARY TO INCREASE CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS AS ANNOUNCED RECENTLY.
FROM NOVEMBER 1, PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO PAY $3 INSTEAD OF $2 A DAY FOR A THIRD-CLASS DED, AND AT SOME FUTURE DATE THIS CHARGE VIL DE FURTIER INCREASED TO $5.
DR. CHOA SAID HE CONSIDERED IT MORE APPROPRIATE NOT TO INCREASE THE HOSPITAL CHARGE RIGHTAWAY FROM $2 TO $5 FOR FEAR THAT IN SPITE OF THE FEE REMITTING SYSTEM, PEOPLE VOULD NOT UNDERSTAND AND KEEP, AWAY LECAUSE THE DIFFERENCE IS TOO MUCH FOR THEM.
→WE HAVE ACHIEVED MUCH BY KEEPING THE CHARGES LOW AND IT WOULD BE A GREAT PITY IF INCREASED CHANGES IN THE CLINICS AND HOSPITALS WOULD DETER PATIENTS FROM COMING TO US AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE STAGE OF THEIR ILLNESSES.+
THIS IS ALSO THE MAIN REASON WHY HE DID NOT ADVISE INCREASING THE OUT-PATIENT CHARGE OF $1.
DR. CHOA SAID IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT AT PRESENT PRICES THE COST OF MAINTAINING A DED IN A GOVERNMENT HOUPITAL TAKING ALL THREE CLASSES TOGETHER, IS $161 A DAY AND AN OUT-PATIENT ATTENDANCE COSTS THE GOVERNĤENT $9 EACH TIME,
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE COST OF THE DIET FOR A THIRD CLASS BED ALONE AMOUNTED TO $4.63 A DAY.
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IT WAS THEREFORE NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TRY RECOVER EVEN A REASONABLE, LET ALONE A SUBSTANTIAL, PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE, HE SAID.
IN FACT, THE TOTAL REVENUS FROM THE COLLECTION OF CHARGES AND FEES IN ALL GOVERNMENT 108PITALS IS ONLY ABOUT 6 PER CENT OF THE ANNUAL BUNGET FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
FULL TEXT OF DR. CHOA'S SPEECH IS AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS PRESS ROOM, 67IL FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.
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