WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988
41
JUSTIFIABLE PRIDE IN MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
IN
THE GOVERNMENT'S JUSTIFIABLE PRIDE IN NUMEROUS ACHIEVEMENTS
SECRETARY MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES HAS NOT LED TO COMPLACENCY, THE
THE HON FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE,
T.H. CHAU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIV" COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
"FAR FROM DENYING THAT PROBLEMS EXIST, THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE FACED THEM SQUARELY AND HAS CONCLUDED THAT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO
REQUIRED, PRESENT SYSTEM OF MANAGING MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES ARE HE SAID.
OF
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED POLICY DEBATE, MR CHAU NOTED THAT
STAFF REFERENCES HAD BEEN MADE TO PROBLEMS OF
WASTAGE, SHORTAGE HOSPITAL BEDS, AND OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS IN MANY PUBLIC HOSPITALS.
CONFRONT U9 "WHILE IT MAY WELL BE THAT THE PROBLEMS WHICH NOW
VERY RAPID EXPANSION OF ARE, AT LEAST IN PART, ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE
FIRMLY SERVICES WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THE PAST 10 TO 15 YEARS, I BELIEVE THAT
HAVE TO
HELD BACK ON SUCH
HAVE EXPANSION WOULD BEEN INDEFENSIBLE, HE SAID.
"ACCESS TO MEDICAL TREATMENT CANNOT BE THE PREROGATIVE PRIVILEGED FEW,' HE ADDED.
I
OF THE
'IN STRIVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE FULL RANGE THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACTED IN THE FIRM CONVICTION THAT
ΤΟ AVAILABLE
ALL, HOWEVER OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES SHOULD BE MEAGRE THEIR FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE, MR CHAU SAID.
"
HAD BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS, MR CHAU SAID,
WHO UNDERTOOK THE IMPRESSIVE A FACT ACKNOWLEDGED BY CONSULTANTS
THE DECISION TO REVIEW OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS THAT LED TO ESTABLISH A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY,
OF THE
PROVISIONAL
HOSPITAL
ESTABLISHMENT MR CHAU SAID THE AUTHORITY (PHA) MARKED THE FIRST STEP ON THE ROAD TO A MORE EFFICIENT, WELL-MANAGED AND COST-EFFECTIVE HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
ΤΟ BE "ITS KEY PRIORITIES WILL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR HOSPITAL STAFF AND TO OF A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR PATIENT CARE, HE SAID.
"
DEVELOP IMPROVED TERMS AND LAY THE FOUNDATIONS
AND
STAFFING
PHA WAS ONLY A FUTURE HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT AND AND WHICH WILL OF HOSPITAL
OF THE WHILE NOTING THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT
SETTING UP OF THE PROCESS OF
FIRST STEP, MR CHAU SAID: "THE AUTHORITY WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF REFORM WHICH WILL TAKE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO COMPLETE
EMBRACE ALL
SERVICES."
ASPECTS
OF
THE
A
MANAGEMENT
TURNING TO