16
UNE WAY, DECEMBER 11, 198
VIEWS TO BE SOUGHT ON MEDICAL SERVICES REVIEW
*****
THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS TO RECEIVE THIS WEEK A CONSULTANTS' REPORT ON THE REVIEW OF THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES, AND SUBJECT TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AGREEMENT, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO PUBLISH IT AS A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR CHAMBERS SAID HE FULLY AGREED WITH THE VIEW EXPRESSED THAT THE TOPICS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT WERE OF CONCERN TO VIRTUALLY EVERYONE IN HONG KONG.
+THERE WILL NEED TO BE EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS BEFORE ANY DECISIONS ARE TAKEN ON MAJOR CHANGES TO THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM, HE SAID.
ON UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' CONCERN THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONS IDER ING THE PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS, MR CHAMBERS GAVE ASSURANCE THAT THIS WAS NO PART OF THE CONSULTANTS' BRIEF,+ AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO INTENTION OF REDUCING ITS COMMITMENTS TO THE PROVISION OF SUBSIDISED HOSPITAL SERVICES.
+THE CONSULTANTS WERE ASKED TO REVIEW THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND TO ADVISE WHETHER BETTER INTEGRATION WOULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AUTONOMOUS HOSPITAL AUTHORITIES,
HE SAID.
MR CHAMBERS SAID HE HOPED THE CONSULTANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD ALSO HELP THE GOVERNMENT TO IDENTIFY WAYS OF ACHIEVING COMMON STANDARDS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS,
+BUT,+ HE SAID, WHATEVER CHANGES ARE BROUGHT ABOUT, IT IS THE INTENTION THAT THESE HOSPITALS SHOULD REMAIN WITHIN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, AND THAT THE IR SERVICES SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE TO ALL THOSE WHO NEED THEM, REGARDLESS OF THE IR ABILITY TO PAY.+
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE RANGE OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES HAD GREATLY EXPANDED SINCE THE 1960'S AND THERE HAD BEEN CHANGES ALSO IN THE CATEGORISATION OF SERVICES.
+WHAT WE CAN ASSERT IS THAT MORE THAN $4 BILLION WILL BE SPENT ON MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, WHICH IS OVER SEVEN TIMES GREATER THAN WHAT IT WAS A DECADE AGO AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS WHICH ARE PLANNED, 1 WOULD EXPECT MEDICAL EXPENDITURE TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE
SUBSTANTIALLY IN REAL TERMS, HE SAID.
MR CHAMBERS SAID ONE ASPECT OF THESE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF HOSPITAL SERVICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HE GAVE