TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 1989
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CHANGES TO SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME
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PRACTICAL CHANGES TO THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME WILL BR INTRODUCED IN THE 1989-90 SCHOOL YEAR SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
RECOMMENDED BY THE WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE, THESE CHANGES WERE NOTED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, PARENTS WILL CONTINUE ΤΟ BE ABLE TO CHOOSE A DOCTOR FROM AMONG ALL THE DOCTORS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME.
PARTICIPATING PUPILS MAY THEN VISIT THE DOCTOR WITH WHOM THEY ARE REGISTERED ANY TIME THEY FEEL UNWELL DURING THE YEAR.
IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING ENROLMENT FEE, WHICH WILL REMAIN AT $10, PARENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY A $10 PER VISIT CHARGE TO THE DOCTOR. PUPILS WHO REQUIRE MEDICATION WILL BE PROVIDED WITH MEDICINE SUFFICIENT FOR AT LEAST TWO DAYS AT NO EXTRA COST.
PARTICIPATING DOCTORS ARE REQUIRED TO INDICATE TO THE PARENTS AT THE TIME THEY MADE THE CHOICE OF DOCTOR, THEIR CONSULTATION HOURS UNDER THE SCHEME.
TREAT PUPILS ENROLLED IN THE HOURS, ON EQUAL TERMS WITH THEIR
THESE DOCTORS ARE EXPECTED TO SCHEME, WITHIN THE CONSULTATION PRIVATE PATIENTS.
THE $10 PER VISIT CHARGE IS FIXED BY THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD AND 1S LOWER THAN THE FEE CHARGED AT GOVERNMENT GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS, WHICH IS CURRENTLY $13 PER CONSULTATION.
PARENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE CHARGES CAN SEND THEIR CHILDREN FOR TREATMENT AT THE GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS WHERE THERE ARE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE WAIVING OF FEES.
THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD HAS ALSO REVIEWED THE LEVEL OF ANNUAL CAPITATION GRANT FROM GOVERNMENT FOR A SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE DOCTOR WHICH HAS NOT BEEN REVISED SINCE 1984.
BOTH THE BOARD AND THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDER IT REASONABLE THAT FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1989-90, THE CAPITATION GRANT SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM $65 FOR EACH PUPIL TO $120.
ASSUMING THE NUMBER OF PUPILS PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHEME WILL BE THE SAME AS THAT IN THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR, A TOTAL OF SOME 438,000, GOVERNMENT'S ANNUAL EXPENDITURE ON THE CAPITATION GRANT BE INCREASED FROM $28.5 MILLION TO $52.5 MILLION.
WILL
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL BE TO APPROVE THE REVISED CAPITATION GRANT AND ITS FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS AT ITS MEETING ON JULY 5 THIS YEAR.
ASKED
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