THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1985
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HOSPITAL AND CLINIC FEES REVISED
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CHARGES AT ALL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WILL BE INCREASED FROM JULY 1, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE DAILY RATE IN THE GENERAL WARD OF ALL HOSPITALS WILL BE INCREASED FROM $15 TO $18.
PATIENTS REQUIRING SPECIAL ASIAN DIET AND EUROPEAN DIET WILL HAVE TO PAY THE NEW CHARGES OF $36 AND $54 PER DAY. EXISTING CHARGES FOR THESE DIETS ARE $30 AND $45 RESPECTIVELY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE DAILY MAINTENANCE CHARGE FOR A GENERAL WARD BED IS BASED ON THE COST OF MEALS FOR EACH PATIENT.
+THE DAILY CHARGE COVERS THE COST OF FOOD, DRUGS, SURGERY, LABORATORY TESTS, X-RAY AND SPECIAL TREATMENT,+ HE SAID.
THIS MEANS THAT EACH PATIENT IN THE GENERAL WARD WILL STILL BE HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS THE AVERAGE BED-DAY COST IN MAJOR HOSPITALS IS IN THE REGION OF $600 TO $700.
+ IN THE CASE OF GENUINE HARDSHIP, HOSPITAL FEES CAN BE WAIVED ALTOGETHER, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
AT THE SAME TIME, DAILY CHARGES FOR FIRST AND SECOND CLASS BEDS WILL ALSO BE REVISED FROM $600 TO $750 AND FROM $400 TO $500 RESPECTIVELY.
FOR THE SPECIAL CLASS WARD IN TSAN YUK HOSPITAL THE NEW CHARGE WILL BE $335.
PATIENTS STAYING IN FIRST CLASS AND SECOND CLASS WARDS OF THE TWO PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS - CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL AND KWAI CHUNG HOSPITAL - WILL BE CHARGED $240 AND $160 EACH DAY. THE EXISTING FEES ARE $195 AND $130 RESPECTIVELY.
HOWEVER, UNLIKE THE GENERAL WARD, PATIENTS IN THE FIRST CLASS, SECOND CLASS AND SPECIAL WARDS WILL, IN ADDITION TO THE DAILY CHARGE, HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS, OPERATIONS, TREATMENT OR SPECIAL LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS.
FOR OUTPATIENT SERVICES, CONSULTATION FEES WILL BE RAISED FROM $7 TO $9 IN THE GENERAL CLINICS AND FROM $10 TO $12 IN THE SPECIALIST CLINICS.
THE FEES FOR INJECTIONS AND DRESSINGS WILL ALSO GO UP FROM $2 TO $3 IN LINE WITH THE INCREASE IN CHARGES OF THE GENERAL OUTPATIENT CLINICS.
BUT CHARGES AT FAMILY PLANNING CLINICS AND METHADONE CLINICS WILL REMAIN AT $1.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE PREVIOUS FEE INCREASE IN 1984 APPEARED TO HAVE CAUSED NO SIGNIFICANT HARDSHIP TO THE PUBLIC NOR DID IT DETER PEOPLE FROM SEEKING MEDICAL CARE.
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