15
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986
TURNING TO THE VARIOUS METHODS OF DEVELOPING RESOURCES
AS FORMULATED BY THE CONSULTANTS, DR CHIU CONSIDERED THAT THE SUGGESTED $12 FEE FOR ATTENDING AN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY UNIT WAS A USEFUL MEASURE TO AVOID ABUSE OF THE SERVICE.
HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THE NEED TO UPHOLD THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY.
DR CHIU OBSERVED THAT THE REPORT HAD OMITTED A VERY IMPORTANT AREA THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE.
+AS PRIMARY CARE IS THE BASIC MEDICAL SERVICE, THE SIGNIFICA..T ROLE IT PLAYS SHOULD NEVER BE OVERLOOKED, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPANDING HOSPITAL SERVICES,+ HE SAID.
HE FELT THAT THE REPORT'S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ACCEPTABLE ONLY ON CONDITION THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RETAIN THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROVISION OF EXTRA FUNDS CAUSED BY CHANGES AND THAT THE ANNUAL MEDICAL EXPENDITURE WOULD NOT BE LESS THAN THE PRESENT LEVEL.
DR CHIU SUGGESTED A NUMBER OF INTERIM MEASURES TO IMPROVE MEDICAL SERVICES AS IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THE REPORT. HIS SUGGESTIONS WERE:
* TO MAKE BETTER USE OF VACANT BEDS IN SUBVENTED HOSPITALS FOR CONVALESCENT CASES REFERRED FROM THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR:
* TO DISTRIBUTE MORE BEDS TO THE OVER SUBSCRIBED
ORTHOPAEDIC, MEDICAL, SURGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC WARDS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS;
* TO EXPEDITE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INFIRMARY BEDS
SO AS TO RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON GENERAL WARDS AND
* TO FURTHER EXPAND THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE,
ESPECIALLY THE COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRIC NURSING SERVICE, TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR AFTER-CARE SERVICE FOR THE MENTALLY-ILL.
FINALLY, DR CHIU QUESTIONED THE FUNDING OF THE BRITISH MILITARY HOSPITAL, NOTING THAT THIS HAD BECOME A TOPICAL ISSUE EVER SINCE THE MATTER OF A SUPPLEMENTARY ALLOCATION FOR THE HOSPITAL WAS RAISED AT A FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
HE HAD DISCOVERED THAT THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF THE HOSPITAL WAS NOT SEPARATELY IDENTIFIABLE IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES BECAUSE IT WAS SUBSUMED WITHIN THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT.
HE WONDERED