WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986
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WE OBSERVED THAT A MAJORITY OF THE 82 SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED BY THE PANEL SUPPORTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY (THA), THOUGH MOST OF THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SOME COMMUNITY CONCERNS GROUPS WERE AGAINST THE IDEA.
DR CHIU SAID THE REASONS ADVANCED BY THOSE WHO DISAGREED WITH THE CONCEPT COVERED FOUR MAIN AREAS:
*
*
THEY FEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHIRK ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE TO ITS PEOPLE, AND IT IS SEEN AS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS 'PRIVATISATION':
THEY TAKE THE NEW ESTABLISHMENT AS A THREAT TO THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS;
* THEY QUERY WHETHER THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR A MAJOR
CHANGE IN HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT; AND
*
THEY BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE EXISTING STRUCTURE AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM IS LACK OF RESOURCES.
SPEAKING IN HIS PERSONAL CAPACITY, DR CHIU SAID HE STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE VIEW THAT THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES MUST BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT. THIS MEANT FUNDING. OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE IHA MUST INVOLVE THE GOVERNMENT.
HE REGARDED THE IHA AS THE CORNERSTONE FOR HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, BUT DID NOT BELIEVE IT COULD WORK IF THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT PREPARED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE RESOURCES.
+UNLESS WE HAVE THIS COMMITMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT,+
HE SAID, +WE WILL HESITATE TO ACCEPT THE REPORT.+
DR CHIU STRESSED THAT THE IHA, IF SET UP, SHOULD NOT FOLLOW THE LINES OF THE KCRC AND MTRC WHICH ARE RUN ON COMMERCIAL PRINCIPLES, AS THE PROPOSED FEE-CHARGING SYSTEM COULD NOT COVER THE EXPENDITURE OF EXISTING MEDICAL SERVICES LET ALONE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF HOSPITAL CARE.
ADDRESSING THE ANXIETY OF STAFF IN ACUTE HOSPITALS, DR CHIU REJECTED THE CONSULTANTS' PROPOSAL THAT FRINGE BENEFITS OF THE FUTURE I HA STAFF SHOULD BE LOWER THAN THOSE OF COMPARABLE GRADES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
HOSPITAL STAFF WERE ALREADY CARRYING HEAVY CLINICAL WORKLOAD, WORKED IN AN UNPLEASANT ENVIRONMENT AND LACKED PROFESSIONAL STIMULUS, HE SAID.
/+I FEEL TERRIBLY