FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1984
+ IN ADDITION, THIS YEAR WE WILL OFFER A NEW PREPARATORY CRAFT COURSE FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT POSSESS THE MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO CRAFT COURSES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,
THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS COURSE IS TO ENABLE MATURE PERSONS TO OBTAIN KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO STUDY CRAFT COURSES, HE ADDED.
APPLICANTS FOR THIS COURSE SHOULD BE OVER 25 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVE AT LEAST FIVE YEARS OF WORKING EXPERIENCE.
DETAILS OF ALL PART-TIME EVENING COURSES WILL BE ADVERTISED IN THE LOCAL PRESS TOMORROW (SATURDAY). APPLICATION FORMS AND GUIDES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND DISTRICT OFFICES DURING OFFICE HOURS.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION IS SATURDAY (MAY 12). CURRENT FORM FIVE STUDENTS MAY ALSO APPLY.
MEDICAL FEES REVISED
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CHARGES AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND OUTPATIENT CLINICS WILL BE REVISED FROM MAY 1, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
A PATIENT STAYING IN A GENERAL WARD WILL BE CHARGED $15 A DAY INSTEAD OF THE EXISTING $10. THE DAILY RATE FOR SPECIAL ASIAN DIET WILL BE INCREASED TO $30 AND FOR EUROPEAN DIET TO $45.
CONSULTATION FEES AT A GENERAL CLINIC WILL BE REVISED FROM $5 TO $7 A VISIT AND FROM $6 TO $10 AT A SPECIALIST CLINIC,
HOWEVER, CHARGES AT FAMILY PLANNING CLINICS AND METHADONE CLINICS WILL REMAIN AT $1.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THAT EVEN WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW FEES, THE GOVERNMENT STILL HAS TO PROVIDE A HEAVY SUBSIDY FROM PUBLIC FUNDS FOR EACH PATIENT ATTENDING A HOSPITAL OR A CLINIC.
+FOR EXAMPLE, THE INCREASED RATE OF $15 A BED IN THE GENERAL WARD ONLY REFLECTS THE COST OF PROVIDING THREE MEALS A DAY IN THE HOSPITAL BUT DOES NOT COVER THE COSTS OF DRUGS, SURGERY, LABORATORY TEST AND X-RAYS, HE SAID.
IN CASES OF GENUINE HARDSHIP, THERE ARE ALSO PROVISIONS TO REDUCE OR WAIVE THE CHARGES, HE ADDED.
THE FULL DAILY MAINTENANCE COST FOR EACH BED FOR 1982-83 RANGED FROM $450 IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL TO $720 IN QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL.
THE AVERAGE COST FOR EACH ATTENDANCE WORKED OUT TO ABOUT $40 AT A GENERAL CLINIC AND TO ABOUT $90 AT A SPECIALIST CLINIC.
THE LAST REVISION OF HOSPITAL AND CLINIC FEES WAS IN APRIL LAST YEAR.
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