WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1989
13
EXPRESSING FULL SUPPORT FOR THE DOCTORS AND NURSES, MR LEE SAID THAT HE DID NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE VIEW THAT SINCE THE GRIEVANCES THEY RAISED DATED BACK MORE THAN 10 YEARS THEY SHOULD WAIT PATIENTLY FOR ANOTHER YEAR FOR THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TO COME UP WITH ITS PROPOSALS FOR REFORM.
I
HOSPITAL, IT PAIN FOR 10 PROBABLY
TO A FOR IF ONE WIT TO APPLY THIS CHOP LOGIC WOULD MEAN THAT A PATIENT WHO HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM HOURS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BECAUSE HE CAN BEAR IT FOR ANOTHER POUR OR SO," HE SAID.
LETTER
MR LEE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOCTORS' ASSOCIATION (GDA) HAD
FRESSING PROBLEMS OUTLINED SIX
IN THEIR EARLIER
то THE CONVENER OF THE OMELCO HEALTH SERVICES PANEL.
THESE H
LISEN,
SUPPLY OF AIR-CONDITIONING IN I
ON OUT-PATIENT
SHORTAGE
OF
SERVICES, SHORTAGE IN THE HOSPITAL BEDS, LACK
OF
WASTING
11. WARDS, A 24-HOUR PHARMACY SERVICE IN GOVERNMENT
OTHER THAN REGIONAL
AND HOSPITALS, DOCTORS' TIME BY REQUIRING THEM TO DO CLERICAL WORK.
HOSPITALS
GDA NOT ONLY WERE ALL THESE CRITICISMS FAIR AND VALID, BUT THE
TO HAD ALSO PROPOSED CLEAR AND SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
THESE PROBLEMS, MR
LEE SAID.
MR LEE SAID HE FAILED TO SEE
WHY THESE
WERE PROBLEMS
STILL
THERE.
HE SAID
THAT THE
HAD BEEN
PUBLIC
GOVERNMENT'S PHILOSOPHY IN
HEALTH
CARE OVER THE YEARS
TO PROVIDE MINIMAL SERVICE AT THE WITH THE SYSTEM, THEY MINIMAL COST, AND AS THE PUBLIC HAD GROWN UP HAD ACCEPTED IT AS CHARITY BESTOWED UPON THEM BY THEIR GOVERNMENT.
HONG
"I INSIST THAT THIS PHILOSOPHY MUST NOW BE REJECTED. FOR THIS IS THE AGE OF CONSUMER RIGHTS AND
KONG HAS DEVELOPED INTO A STAGE WHEN ITS PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO HAVE THE QUALITY OF IMPROVED, MR LEE SAID.
T
THEIR LIFE
SERVICE COMMENSURATE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL
PROVIDE A
WITH THE
OF NEEDS
A MODERN PATIENTS HAVE CERTAIN BASIC
"IT IS THEREFORE THE GOVERNMENT'S UNDOUBTED DUTY TO PUBLIC HEALTH SOCIETY AND TO RIGHTS."
THESE INCLUDED THE RIGHT TO
PROMPT
TREATMENT,
RIGHT THE
TO THE RIGHT ΤΟ SUCH INFORMATION,
CONSIDERATE AND RESPECTFUL CARE, THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, INFORMATION AND TO MAKE A DECISION IN THE LIGHT OF AND THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN.
MR LEE SAID THAT HE ACCEPTED THAT OVERHAUL THE WHOLE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY NEEDED TIME TO DO SO.
PRESENT
NECESSARY TO THAT THE
IT MIGHT BE
AND HOSPITALS.
FOR SECRETARY
HEALTH
AND
HE ALSO ACCEPTED THAT THE WELFARE HAD BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING ABOUT SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
/MR LEE