3
THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1977
GOVERNMENT TO SPEND MORE ON
MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES *****
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, SAID TODAY THAT GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON MÉDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WAS CERTAIN TO INCREASE IN THE FUTURE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AN EXPANDING POPULATION.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW EAST KOWLOON POLYCLINIC AT NGAU CHI WAN THIS AFTERNOON, HE SAID THAT AS MEDICAL SCIENCE ADVANCES, THE COSTS OF DRUGS, EQUIPMENT AND MEDICAL FACILITIES GENERALLY HAVE INCREASED GREATLY.
IN THE PRESENT FINANCIAL YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS TO SPEND OVER $520 MILLION ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
+AND THIS FIGURE IS CERTAIN TO INCREASE IN THE FUTURE AS OUR HOSPITAL BUILDING PROGRAMMES GO FORWARD AND AS OUR SECOND MEDICAL SCHOOL PRODUCES MORE DOCTORS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AN EXPANDING POPULATION, SIR DENYS SAID.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT THE DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT HONG KONG OF A NETWORK OF CLINICS WAS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE MAINTENANCE OF A HIGH STANDARD OF HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITY.
+LARGE NUMBERS OF PATIENTS, WHO WOULD OTHERWISE IMPOSE FURTHER DEMANDS ON OUR CROWDED HOSPITALS, ARE SUCCESSFULLY TREATED IN THEM, HE SAID.
+BECAUSE THESE CLINICS ARE LOCATED IN CENTRES OF DENSE POPULATION, SAID SIR DENYS, THEY BRING MEDICAL FACILITIES CLOSER TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM.+
+AN ANNUAL ATTENDANCE AT THESE CLINICS OF OVER FOUR MILLION SHOWS CLEARLY THAT THE PUBLIC GREATLY VALUES THE SERVICES WHICH THEY OFFER,+ HE SAID.
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, ALSO SPOKE OF MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS DURING THE CEREMONY.
HE SAID THE EAST KOWLOON POLYCLINIC WAS THE FIRST OF THE MANY PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED ACCORDING TO THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN WHICH HE HAD DISCLOSED RECENTLY AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
IN THE EAST KOWLOON AREA, HE SAID, A NETWORK OF SIX CLINICS ALREADY EXISTED TO CATER FOR THE GROWING DEMANDS OF SUCH SERVICES IN THIS LOCATION.
+THE PRESENT FACILITIES THUS REPRESENT A FURTHER INCREASE IN THE CLINIC SERVICES WHICH I AM SURE WILL BE WELCOMED BY RESIDENTS IN THIS VICINITY, HE SAID.
/STAGE ONE ............