1
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1988
3
WATERSHED IN DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
HONG KONG IS AT A WATERSHED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR T.H. CHAU, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
"WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY, BUT WE RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS STILL SOME WAY TO GO BEFORE WE ACHIEVE THE FULL RANGE AND QUALITY OF SERVICES WE DESIRE," MR CHAU SAID WHEN ADDRESSING A SEMINAR ON HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT.
HE SAID THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY MARKED AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF FAR REACHING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HONG KONG'S PUBLIC
HOSPITALS.
"IT IS THE BEGINNING OF A PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM WHICH WILL TAKE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO COMPLETE AND WHICH WILL EMBRACE ALL ASPECTS OF THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING OF HOSPITAL SERVICES,' HE SAID,
"OUR AIM IS FOR THE NEW HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TO COME INTO OPERATION IN APRIL 1990."
IN PREPARATION FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT, MR CHAU SAID THE PRESENT MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD BE SPLIT INTO SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SERVICES WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.
"THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WHICH WILL REMAIN A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DISEASE, THE PROMOTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE DELIVERY OF A RANGE OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES, HE SAID.
WILL BE RESPONSIBLE
"THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF SERVICES IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS WILL, IN DUE COURSE, BE SUBSUMED AS THE EXECUTIVE ARM OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WHEN IT COMES INTO EXISTENCE.
*
MR CHAU POINTED OUT THAT THE IDEA OF SETTING UP A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WAS BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF A CONSULTANCY REPORT.
THIS HAD ADVISED THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS SHOULD BE INTEGRATED UNDER A STATUTORY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT,
BUT OPERATING OUTSIDE THE CIVIL SERVICE.
THE OBJECTIVES WERE TO IMPROVE SERVICES IN STEP AND IN A MANNER WHICH ENSURED MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS AT ALL LEVELS, HE ADDED.
14