WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1990
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ON BRIDGING OVER ARRANGEMENTS, MR TIEN NOTED THAT AS STAFF MOVED OVER TO THE HA FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE, THEY COULD BE ASSURED THAT THEY WOULD ENJOY THE SAME PENSION AS IF THEY HAD STAYED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
REFERRING TO THE QUESTION OF FEES AND CHARGES, MR TIEN SAID THEY MIGHT BE AIMED AT RECOVERING 15 PER CENT TO 20 PER CENT OF COSTS OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS, BUT ONLY WHEN HOSPITAL SERVICES HAD SHOWN SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS.
MOREOVER, PATIENTS WHO GENUINELY WERE UNABLE TO AFFORD ΤΟ PAY COULD BE RELIEVED EVEN OF THESE MODEST CHARGES, HE SAID.
PUBLIC NEEDS MORE FACTS ABOUT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY
* * * *
CLAIM THAT THE
THE PUBLIC NEEDS MORE FACTS BEFORE ANYONE CAN HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD, THE HON ELSIR TU SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN SPEAKING AGAINST THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY 1990 DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON IT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
BILL
MRS TU SAID THE PUBLIC HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE DARK ABOUT LIKELY FEES AND CHARGES AND HAD MERELY BEEN TOLD THAT NO ONE WOULD BE LEFT WITHOUT HOSPITAL CARE BECAUSE HE OR SHE WAS POOR.
"BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S DEFINITION OF 'POOR'. IS IT SIMILAR TO THE DEFINITION OF 'POOR' AS APPLIED TO KINDERGARTEN FEE ASSISTANCE, WHICH MEANS LIVING AT OR BELOW THE BREAD-
LINE?
'IS IT SIMILAR TO THE DEFINITION SETTING OUT THE INCOME LIMITS FOR RENTED PUBLIC HOUSING BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WHICH LEAVES A SANDWICH GROUP THAT CAN NEVER QUALIFY FOR RENTED HOUSING YET ALSO CANNOT AFFORD TO GO FOR HOME OWNERSHIP?" SHE ASKED.
SHE SAID THE PUBLIC NEEDED ASSURANCE IN CONCRETE TERMS BEFORE STEPS WERE TAKEN TO DEPRIVE THEM OF ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE AT A PRICE THEY COULD AFFORD TO PAY.
TURNING TO HOSPITAL STAFF, MRS TU SAID IT COULD NOT BE GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC IF THE STAFF WHO TOOK CARE OF THE SICK FELT INSECURE AND UNHAPPY ABOUT THEIR CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
"NOR CAN IT BE IN THE PUBLIC GOOD THAT MEDICAL STAFF ARB DIVIDED INTO GROUPS SERVING DIFFERENT MASTERS, THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, THE SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS AND THE UNIVERSITY TEACHING SCHOOL," SHE SAID.
I
/SHE SAID