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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986
HE WONDERED HOW MUCH OF THE $1.5 BILLION IN DEFENCE COSTS WOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR THE HOSPITAL AND SAID THE FIGURE WAS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN ASSESSING COST EFFECTIVENESS.
+ IF SUCH NEEDED INFORMATION IS NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO US, MAY WE BE ADVISED HOW WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS IN VETTING THE BUDGET PROPOSALS WHEN THE TIME COMES?+ DR CHIU ASKED.
BROADEN SOURCES OF INCOME TO IMPROVE SERVICES
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR DR THE HON CONRAD LAM TODAY (THURSDAY) SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER WAYS TO IMPROVE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES BY MEANS OF BROADENING SOURCES OF REVENUE AND CURTAILING EXPENDITURE.
SPEAKING DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL, DR LAM QUOTED FIGURES SHOWING THAT PUBLIC DEMANDS FOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WERE EVER INCREASING, BOTH IN TERMS OF QUALITY AND QUANTITY.
THEREFORE, HE SAID, GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE IN THIS AREA WOULD LIKEWISE BE RISING EACH YEAR.
DR LAM WARNED THAT A PROBLEM OF UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES MIGHT ARISE IF THERE WAS ANY MISHANDLING OF THE SITUATION.
EMPHASIS ING THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUBSIDISED MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE NEEDY, DR LAM MADE THREE SUGGESTIONS TO BROADEN SOURCES OF REVENUES.
FIRSTLY, HE SAID, A FEE SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY HOSPITAL ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.
+PATIENTS WHO GO TO CASUALTY WARDS ARE THOSE REQUIRING EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT. THEY DO NOT GO THERE FOR FREE SERVICE BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, THUS THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BE GENEROUS AT THE TAXPAYERS' EXPENSE, HE SAID.
SECONDLY, HE SAID THE COST OF PROVIDING A BED IN A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL RANGED FROM A FEW HUNDRED TO OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY, BUT PATIENTS HAD ONLY TO PAY $15 PER DAY. THEREFORE, HE BELIEVED THAT AN UPWARD ADJUSTMENT OF FEES TO AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL WAS ACCEPTABLE.
/THIRDLY, HE