FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1988
"PATIENTS AND STAFF WORKING IN THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM WILL BOTH BENEFIT FROM THIS MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES, HE SAID.
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SECONDLY, HE SAID, A STRONG REGIONAL AND HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE WOULD BE INTRODUCED TO ENSURE THAT RESOURCES WERE DEPLOYED TO THEIR BEST ADVANTAGE.
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"THIRDLY HE ADDED, 'WITH PUBLIC REPRESENTATION ON BOTH THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AND ON REGIONAL BOARDS, HOSPTIAL SERVICES WILL BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC NEEDS.
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MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS, PERHAPS, A MISCONCEPTION HOWEVER ABOUT THE REASONS WHY THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WAS TO ESTABLISHED, AND THERE MIGHT BE FEARS THAT THE DECISION WAS MOTIVATED IN SOME WAY BY A WISH ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ DISTANCE ITSELF FROM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES.
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH, MR JACOBS SAID.
"THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM IS AND WILL REMAIN HEAVILY SUBSIDISED. AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL, OF COURSE, RETAIN OVERALL POLICY RESPONSIBILITY, HE ADDED.
MR JACOBS SAID HONG KONG HAD ONE OF THE LOWEST INFANT MORTALITY RATES IN THE WORLD AND THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ITS POPULATION WAS AS GOOD AS THAT ENJOYED IN MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
BUT, HE SAID, IF WE WERE TO MAINTAIN OUR REMARKABLE TRACK-RECORD IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH CARE, FRESH INITIATIVES WERE NEEDED.
"THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY REPRESENTS A BOLD MOVE FORWARD, AND I BELIEVE A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
.. I AM SURE THE AUTHORITY WILL PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE FRAMEWORK FOR THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATION AND GROWTH OF OUR HOSPITAL. SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE 1990'S AND BEYOND,
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HE SAID.
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