SUNDAY, MAY 22, 1983
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MORE PUPILS TAKING PART IN SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE
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THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL CHILDREN TAKING PART IN THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.
AT THE END OF THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, ENROLMENT STOOD AT 281 563 PUPILS FROM 859 SCHOOLS, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 36 700 PUPILS, OR 15 PER CENT, OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
A TOTAL OF 251 PRIVATE DOCTORS ARE TAKING PART IN THE SCHEME, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ECONOMICAL MEDICAL TREATMENT TO SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM PRIMARY ONE TO FORM THREE.
MORE THAN 80 PER CENT OF THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOL CHILDREN
ARE IN THE SIX TO 12 YEARS AGE GROUP.
UNDER THE SCHEME, WHICH IS VOLUNTARY FOR DOCTORS, SCHOOLS AND PUPILS. THE PUPIL PAYS $5 A YEAR AND RECEIVES MEDICAL ATTENTION AND MEDICINE FROM A DOCTOR CHOSEN BY THE SCHOOL.
- A PUPIL MAY JOIN THE SCHEME AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR AND IS ENTITLED TO 12 MONTHS' MEDICAL TREATMENT FROM THE DATE OF ENROLMENT.
THE SCHEME IS HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH CONTRIBUTES $50 A YEAR FOR EACH PUPIL ENROLLED.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD SAID ALTHOUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE SCHEME WAS LESS THAN 35 PER CENT OF SOME 800 000 ELIGIBLE SCHOOL CHILDREN, THERE WERE MANY REASONS WHY MORE HAD NOT JOINED.
ALTERNATIVES OPEN TO PARENTS INCLUDED THEIR OWN FAMILY DOCTORS, CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS OFFERING LOW-COST MEDICAL ATTENTION AND GOVERNMENT OUTPATIENT CLINICS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THERE WAS ALSO THE TRADITIONAL HERBALIST WHO CHARGED A FEE PER VISIT, HE ADDED.
+ANOTHER REASON FOR THE COMPARATIVELY LOW ENROLMENT COULD BE THAT THE HEALTH OF THE SCHOOL POPULATION AS A WHOLE IS SOUND, LEADING SOME SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND PARENTS TO SEE LITTLE IMMEDIATE BENEFIT IN AN INSURANCE-ORIENTED MEDICAL SCHEME,+ HE SAID.
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