WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988
46
STEPS BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE
* * * * *
AS A RESULT OF A RECENT REVIEW BY THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD, DEFICIENCIES IN THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ADOLF HSU, STATED THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM.
MR HSU SAID THAT AS TO QUALITY OF SERVICE, A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED BY THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD SECRETARIAT OVER THE YEARS FROM PARENTS OF PARTICIPATING STUDENTS.
IN
THESE COMPLAINTS MAINLY CONCERNED DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT DOCTORS' CLINICS, AND THE QUESTION OF WHETHER PATIENTS SHOULD BE CHARGED SEPARATELY FOR THE PROVISION OF MEDICINES.
THE PRINCIPAL DEFICIENCY IN
THE EXISTING SCHEME WAS
ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE, HE SAID.
AT PRESENT A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CHOSE A NUMBER OF DOCTORS AND CIRCULATED THEIR NAMES TO PARENTS OF HIS STUDENTS INVITING THEM ΤΟ JOIN THE SCHEME.
"SINCE ENROLMENT
IN THE SCHEME
ATTITUDE OF
IS VOLUNTARY, A STUDENT'S ABILITY OR INCENTIVE TO PARTICIPATE IS INFLUENCED BY THE THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL," HE SAID.
"SOME PRINCIPALS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE SCHEME AND REFUSE PARTICIPATION BY THEIR SCHOOLS, THEREBY MAKING IT VERY INCONVENIENT FOR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS TO JOIN EVEN IF THEY WISH BECAUSE THEY WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE REGISTERED IN PERSON AT THE BOARD'S OFFICE.
"CENTAIN PARENTS MAY NOT WISH THEIR CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE THE DOCTORS SELECTED BY THE SCHOOL ARE UNKNOWN TO THEM OR THEIR CLINICS ARE INCONVENIENTLY LOCATED."
MR HSU ALSO SAID THAT THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNMENT, HAD DRAWN UP A NUMBER OF IMMEDIATE REMEDIES, ESTABLISHING A SUB-COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS SINCE SEPTEMBER 1987.
IT HAD ALSO DECIDED TO MAKE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES SCHOOL CHOOSES DOCTOR" SYSTEM AND INTRODUCE A SYSTEM WITH CHOICE IN DOCTORS STARTING FROM THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR.
TO THE PARENTAL
LIST
OF
THE SYSTEM INVOLVED PARENTS CHOOSING FROM A PARTICIPATING DOCTORS DRAWN UP BY THE BOARD AND CIRCULATED THROUGH THE SCHOOLS.
THIS WOULD