WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1989
10
SINCERITY OF GOVT CHALLENGED
THE GOVERNMENT'S SINCERITY IN IMPROVING MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WAS CHALLENGED BY DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY}, AND HE ALSO CRITICISED ADMINISTRATORS AS BEING INSENSITIVE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEEDY.
11
DR LEONG WAS LEADING OFF THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON 'MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITALS"
4
HE QUERIED HOW SERVICES COULD POSSIBLY BE IMPROVED WHEN THE TOTAL BUDGET ALLOCATED TO MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COMING YEAR WAS REDUCED FROM 9.3 PER CENT TO 8.7 PER CENT AND YET THERE WERE TO BE EXPANDING MEDICAL PROJECTS WITHIN THE SAME PERIOD.
DR LEONG REFERRED TO SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS OF AN "AILING MEDICAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM WHICH DESERVES A COMPLETE OVERHAUL".
+
THESE INCLUDED THE "DETESTED" STATE OF CONGESTION IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS; THE COMMON MATTER OF THE SICK HAVING TO WAIT AS LONG AS ONE YEAR TO OBTAIN AN APPOINTMENT FOR A SPECIALIST CONSULTATION; AND THE ABSENCE OF A 24-HOUR PHARMACY SERVICE.
IN CRITICISING THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM, DR LEONG SAID THAT HE WAS NOT SPEAKING AS A DOCTOR BUT AS SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN A VICTIM, HAVING WORKED IN THAT SYSTEM AND REPEATEDLY SEEN PATIENTS BEING VICTIMISED BY IT.
THE PATIENTS' MISFORTUNE WITH THE PUBLIC HOSPITALS REFLECTED THE LACK OF PROPER MANAGEMENT OF THE EXISTING MEDICAL AND HEALTH DELIVERY SERVICES, HE SAID.
PATIENTS IN SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WERE EVEN WORSE OFF THAN THOSE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS,
"WITH THE SAME HEAVY WORKLOAD ON PATIENT CARE, SUBVENTED HOSPITALS ARE AFFORDED A MUCH LOWER RUNNING SUM PER HOSPITAL BED WHILST THEIR STAFF ARE ENTITLED TO MUCH REDUCED STAFF BENEFITS, HE SAID.
"
ON THE SITUATION OF PUBLIC DOCTORS AND NURSES, DR LEONG DESCRIBED THE FORMER'S DECISION TO PURSUE GRADED INDUSTRIAL ACTION AS AN EXPLOSION AFTER YEARS OF FRUSTRATION AND YEARS OF NEGLECT.
HAVE
"THE WARNING SIGNS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ALL TO
SEE, BUT SIMPLY BEEN IGNORED BY THOSE IN CHARGE. THE CONDITION DETERIORATES, BUT TREATMENT. THOUGH ASKED FOR. HAS NEVER BEEN FORTHCOMING, HE SAID.
-
CITING EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE THE FRUSTRATIONS OF DOCTORS IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, DR LEONG NOTED THAT IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL FOR A PUBLIC DOCTOR TO WORK 70 HOURS A WEEK.
"WHAT SORT
■