14
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1936
INSUFFICIENT INCREASE IN MEDICAL FUNDING
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THOUGH THE BUDGET HAS ALLOCATED $4.3 BILLION FOR MEDICAL SERVICES. THIS IS ONLY AN INCREASE OF 0.2 PER CENT ON THE 1985-86 FUNDING AND CAN HARDLY COVER THE NORMAL INFLATION RATE, DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE BUDGET DEBATE, DR CHIU SAID THIS SMALL INCREASE MEANT THAT DIFFICULTIES WERE ENVISAGED EVEN IN MAINTAINING EXISTING SERVICES, NOT TO MENTION THE PROVISION FOR IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF CARE, EXPANSION OF SERVICE OR UPGRADING OF MEDICAL FACILITIES.
HOWEVER, HE COMMENTED THAT THE JUST RELEASED AUSTRALIAN CONSULTANTS' REPORT ON THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS WAS EXPECTED TO HAVE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR MEDICAL SERVICES.
DR CHIU SAID THE BACKBONE OF THE REPORT WAS APPARENTLY THE PROPOSAL FOR SETTING UP AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WHICH WOULD AIM AT ENSURING EFFECTIVE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF SERVICE AND BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES.
REFERRING TO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THERE BE SEVEN REGIONS, WITH COMMUNITY INPUT IN THE INITIAL STAGE, AND NINE LATER. HE SAID THE MERIT OF THIS PROPOSAL LAY IN BETTER HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT AT REGIONAL LEVEL.
BUT HE SAID THE REPORT'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY THE ROLE OF EXISTING BOARDS OF DIRECTORS IN SUBVENTED HOSPITALS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RECOMMENDED REGIONAL BOARDS WOULD INVITE FUTURE DISPUTES.
ON THE RECOMMENDED PILOT SCHEME TO INTRODUCE B CLASS BEDS TO CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF MIDDLE-INCOME PEOPLE, DR CHIU FEARED THAT ANY ATTEMPT TO PLACE B CLASS BEDS IN THE EXISTING PUBLIC HOSPITALS MIGHT CREATE ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES, REDUCE
THE PROVISION OF C CLASS BEDS AND EXACERBATE OVERCROWDING IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS.
+1 CONSIDER IT MORE WORKABLE IF THE PILOT SCHEME BE BUILT IN WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR NEW HOSPITALS OR
NEW EXTENSIONS, HE SAID.
DR CHIU NOTED THAT ONE MAJOR SUGGESTION CONCERNED INTEGRATION OF GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, WITH THE DETAILS TO BE WORKED OUT BY AN INDEPENDENT STAFF ADVISORY COMMISSION.
/TURNING TO