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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1977
MORE TO BE SPENT ON MEDICAL SERVICES
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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TODAY PROPOSED AN INCREASE IN THE ESTIMATE OF EXPENDITURE ON MEDICAL SERVICES IN 1977-78 TO IMPLEMENT THE FIRST STAGE OF THE REGIONALISATION SCHEME FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND A PILOT SCHEME FOR COMMUNITY NURSING.
THE DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDE FOR EXPENDITURE OF $781 MILLION ON MEDICAL SERVICES COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1976-77 OF $662 MILLION. THIS REPRESENTS 9.5 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN 1977-78.
IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE REGIONALISATION SCHEME FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WOULD FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF PATIENTS BETWEEN HOSPITALS AND THUS IMPROVE THE UTILISATION OF BEDS AND OTHER HOSPITAL FACILITIES.
+TO ENABLE SUCH TRANSFERS TO BE MADE, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE THE NEW STANDARD CHARGE OF $5 A DAY FOR THIRD-CLASS MAINTENANCE IN ALL GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS INCLUDED IN THE SCHEME.+
+TO THIS END, HE SAID, +PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE TO BRING THE POK OI AND BUDDHIST HOSPITALS ON A FULL DEFICIENCY GRANT BASIS SO THAT THEIR CHARGE MAY BE BROUGHT INTO LINE.
ON THE PILOT SCHEME FOR COMMUNITY NURSING, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THIS IMPORTANT SERVICE HAD BEEN PIONEERED BY CERTAIN VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WITH SOME SUCCESS AND IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT SUPPORT SHOULD NOW BE GIVEN FROM PUBLIC FUNDS.
+ THE PILOT SCHEME WILL BE ASSESSED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE DURING THE NEXT THREE YEARS WITH A VIEW TO FORMULATING PLANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SERVICE.+
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT PLANNING WOULD CONTINUE IN 1977-78 ON THE SHA TIN HOSPITAL AND, WITH THE HELP OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, ON THE NEW MEDICAL AND DENTAL SCHOOLS.
+CONSIDERATION WILL ALSO BE GIVEN TO THE BUILDING OF A NEW BLOOD COLLECTION AND TRANSFUSION CENTRE, AND THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE GIVING FURTHER THOUGHT TO THE NEED OF A THIRD NURSES TRAINING SCHOOL, SAID THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.
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