THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1988
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WAYS TO IMPROVE MEDICAL SERVICES SUGGESTED
HEALTH SERVICES
A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE MEDICAL AND WERE PUT FORWARD BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE FIRST STEP
SPEAKING DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE, DR IP SAID SHOULD BE TO CONTAIN THE PUBLJE EXPENDITURE ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
TO ACHIEVE THIS, SHE SUGGESTED THAT A POLICY SHOULD BE MADE ON CHARGING THE PUBLIC A FIXED PERCENTAGE OF THE ACTUAL COST WHICH MUST BE AFFORDABLE OF COURSE, CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, THE HANDICAPPED AND THE POOR SHOULD BE EXEMPT.
SHE FURTHER
SUGGESTED THAT MEDICAL INSURANCE SHOULD
BE
ACTIVELY PROMOTED.
TAX CONCESSIONS FOR COMPANIES WITH MEDICAL INSURANCE SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE PERSON AS WELL. PUBLIC HOSPITAL SHOULD THEN BF ABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THE FULL COST FOR THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDED.
"THE CHARGES FOR NEWLY-INTRODUCED TYPE OF MEDICAL SERVICES, NOT PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED AND NOT CATERING FOR LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS, SHOULD NOT BE SO HEAVILY SUBVENTED AND SHOULD BE PROVIDED PERHAPS EVEN AT COST, SOF SAID.
[C
FOR
DR 1P ALSO PROPOSED THAT A HEALTH CENTRE, PRIMARILY GEARED ADULTS, SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING, PREVENTIVE HEALTH AND EARLY DETECTION OF DISEASE.
THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE HEALTH CENTRE SHOULD INCLUDE ANNUAL CHECKUPS FOR ADULTS OVER 30 YEARS OF AGE, PHYSICAL ASSESSMENTS, ADVICE ON PHYSICAL RECREATION TO PROMOTE HEALTH, AND CLASSES TO EDUCATE THOSE WITH SPECIFIC DIAGNOSED CHRONIC DISEASE ON HOW TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES.
SHE SAID THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS CENTRE WOULD BE TO KEEP OUR WORKING COMMUNITY STRONG AND HEALTHY, AND OUT OF HOSPITALS.
SHE ADDED THAT THE VENTRE SHOULD RE SELF-SUBVENTING. AND IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY BENEFIT THE WORKING COMMUNITY, I'T MUST OPERATE BY APPOINTMENT EVEN AT NIGHT AND ON WEEKENDS.
FULLY
ORDER TO
IN THAT TURNING TO SUBYBNTED HOSPITALS, DR IP SAID UTILISE THEIR POTENTIALS, A WORKING PARTY CHAIRED BY A NON-OFFICIAL, WITH RICH HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE, MUST BE SET UP
OF HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY TO STUDY THE STATE
EQUIPMENT IN SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WITH THE AIM OF UPGRADING THE EQUIPMENT THERE.
/SHE SUGGESTED
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