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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1989
"ALL THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL SERVICES HAS BEEN ACHIEVED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A LOW TAX ECONOMY, AND AT MINIMAL EXPENSE TO THE LARGE SECTOR OF THE POPULATION WHICH DEPENDS ON HEAVILY SUBSIDISED MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, MR CHAU NOTED.
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THAT ANY HONG KONG ON DEMAND TO OUR
"IN THIS CONNECTION, I SHOULD POINT OUT RESIDENT WHO REQUIRES HOSPITALISATION IS ADMITTED PUBLIC HOSPITALS AT THE COST OF ONLY $26 PER DAY, WHEN THE AVERAGE COST OF AN ACUTE HOSPITAL BED IS $1,050 PER DAY.
THERE MUST BE FEW PLACES IN THE WORLD WHERE SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF MODERN AND SOPHISTICATED MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS AVAILABLE ΤΟ THE BULK OF THE POPULATION AT SUCH LOW COST, HE SAID.
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT REMAINED FIRMLY COMMITTED ΤΟ A POLICY WHICH ENSURED THAT NO ONE WAS DEPRIVED, THROUGH LACK OF MEANS, OF THE MEDICAL TREATMENT HE REQUIRED, MR CHAU SAID WE MUST RECOGNISE THE CHALLENGES THIS POLICY PRESENTED.
MR CHAU POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NATURAL AND PROPER THAT THE DEDICATED AND HARDWORKING STAFF OF OUR PUBLIC HOSPITALS SHOULD SEEK TO PROVIDE AN EVER IMPROVING STANDARD OF CARE TO THEIR PATIENTS AND THAT THEY SHOULD, AT TIMES, FEEL FRUSTRATED AT THE APPARENT INABILITY OF THE SYSTEM TO ACHIEVE THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS INDEED SINCERE IN ITS EFFORTS TO MEET THEIR CONCERNS.
"THE COMING MONTHS WILL PRELUDE MAJOR CHANGES TO THE WAY THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM IS MANAGED AND OPERATED.
"WORRIES AND UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT THE FUTURE ARE INEVITABLE AND ENTIRELY UNDERSTANDABLE.
"BUT WE MUST ENSURE, AT ALL COST, THAT STANDARDS OF PATIENT CARE DO NOT SUFFER AND THAT THE PRESENT HIGH LEVEL OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE QUALITY OF THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM, AND THE PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY AND DEDICATION OF OUR STAFF, IS MAINTAINED,' MR CHAU CONCLUDED.
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