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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
AS A RESULT, THE DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTED NOT ONLY TO PERFORM ITS TRADITIONAL AND OBLIGATORY ROLE OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES, BUT ALSO TO TAKE ON THE VERY EXPENSIVE AND SOPHISTICATED SECONDARY AND TERTIARY SERVICES.
THIS, SAID DR LAI, HAS A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT OF STARTING A VICIOUS CYCLE OF PROVIDING SOPHISTICATED AND EXPENSIVE SERVICES WHICH IN TURN GENERATE INSATIABLE DEMAND FOR MORE OF SUCH SERVICES.
*WE ARE NOW IN A SITUATION WHERE THE MORE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WE BUILD AND PROVIDE, THE GREATER IS THE DEMAND BY THE PUBLIC. THERE IS SIMPLY NO END TO THE INSATIABLE PUBLIC DEMAND FOR SERVICES WHICH ARE COMPREHENSIVE, EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND PRACTICALLY FREE, HE ADDED,
DR LAI STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINIC SERVES THREE MAIN FUNCTIONS:
A) TO DETECT ACUTE CASES IN ORDER THAT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL
OF TREATMENT, SUCH AS SPECIALIST CONSULTATION AND HOSPITALISATION CAN BE APPLIED,
B) TO DETECT AND ISOLATE CASES OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES FOR
TREATMENT SO THAT EPIDEMICS CAN BE PREVENTED, AND
c)
TO PROVIDE A BASIC HEALTH SERVICE.
FAR EAST CORRECTIONAL CHIEFS STUDY HONG KONG SYSTEM
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THREE VISITING DEPUTY HEADS OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES IN THE FAR EAST SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED BY THE VARIOUS PROGRAMMES FÖR OFFENDERS PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE THREE VISITORS, MR VICHITR THONGKAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THAILAND'S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, MR E.O. THOMPSON, SINGAPORE'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PRISONS, AND MR SULAIMAN BIN HAJI SANI, MALAYSIA'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS, HAD ARRIVED ON TUESDAY FOR A THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT.
THEY VISITED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS RUN BY THE DEPARTMENT, AND HAD TALKS WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICERS.
AFTER THE VISITS, THE DELEGATES SAID THEY WERE IMPRESSED BY THE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTIONS AND THE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS.
THERE WAS MUCH THEY COULD LEARN FROM THE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES IN HONG KONG, THEY REMARKED,
THE VISITORS WILL LEAVE FOR MANILA THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING TO CONTINUE THEIR FAR EAST STUDY TOUR.
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