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THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1987
HE SAID THAT ANOTHER PROBLEM FACING GOVERNMENT DOCTORS IN OUT-PATIENT CLINICS WAS LOW STAFF MORALE.
HE NOTED THAT GENERAL PRACTITIONERS RELIED ON THE HONG KONG COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS TO DESIGN AND ORGANISE CONTINUE TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND TO GIVE ACCREDITATIONS. SUCH POSTGRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAMMES HAD NOT BEEN SUPPORTED BY PUBLIC FUNDS.
MANY CONSCIENTIOUS GENERAL PRACTITIONERS WENT ABROAD FOR ADVANCE TRAINING ON THEIR OWN AND CAME BACK TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SERVICE IN THEIR WORK PLACE. HOWEVER, POST BASIC QUALIFICATION IN GENERAL PRACTICE OBTAINED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA OR HONG KONG WERE NOT GIVEN DUE CONSIDERATION BY WAY OF BONUS INCREMENT FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE, DR CHIU ADDED.
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, MANY OF THEM LEFT THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR PRIVATE PRACTICE. THOSE WHO REMAINED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR WORKED UNDER PRESSURE AND WITH LOW STAFF MORALE, HE SAID.
+AS LONG AS SUCH DETRIMENTAL ELEMENTS REMAINS, OUR PRIMARY CARE SERVICE CAN NEVER BE IMPROVED, DR CHIU SAID.
TURNING TO FAMILY MEDICINE, HE SAID THAT A GREAT DEFICIENCY IN THE PRESENT MEDICAL SYSTEM WAS THAT FAMILY MEDICINE, WHICH WAS THE MOST ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT OF HEALTH CARE, HAD NOT YET BEEN BUILT INTO THE HEALTH SYSTEM.
+1 REGRET TO SAY THAT IN THE PAST FEW DECADES AN OVERWHELMING CONCENTRATION OF CARE ON HOSPITAL IS A MISPLACE OF EMPHASIS AND THAT THE PUBLIC IS LED TO BELIEVE THAT HOSPITAL SERVICE IS ALL THEY NEED TO SOLVE THEIR HEALTH PROBLEM,+ HE SAID.
THAT EXPLAINED WHY A LARGE NUMBER OF CHRONIC PATIENTS WERE OCCUPYING ACUTE HOSPITAL BEDS TODAY, DR CHIU SAID.
*THIS IS BECAUSE INSTEAD OF PROVIDING THEM WITH PERSONAL AND CONTINUING CARE WITH SPECIALISED SUPPORT FROM HOSPITALS AT THE NEIGHBOUR HOOD LEVEL, WE GIVE THEM COSTLY HOSPITAL SERVICE, HE SAID.
+
DR CHIU ALSO SAID THAT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WERE STILL WAITING FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION IN REGARD TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN CONSULTANCY REPORT ON THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS.
*WE, APART FROM LOOKING UP TO THE GOVERNMENT TO DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE OUR HOSPITAL SERVICES, WORKING CONDITIONS AND SO FORTH. WISH TO URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SAID REPORT THE OMELCO STANDING PANEL ON HEALTH SERVICES AND THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSIDERED NOT NECESSARILY LINKED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, HE SAID,
/TURNING TO
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