WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1991
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REPORT ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PUBLISHED
THE GOVERNMENT PODAY {WEDNESDAY) PUBLISHED THE REPORT BY THE WORKING PARTY ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.
THE WORKING PARTY WAS SET UP IN AUGUST 1989 TO REVIEW THE DELIVERY OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN HONG KONG, IT SUBMITTED
ITS REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IS ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE MADE UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE ΤΟ INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY BY MEANS ACCEPTABLE TO THEM THROUGH THEIR PARTICIPATION AND AT A COST THAT COMMUNITY CAN AFFORD.
THE
IT IS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THE FAMILY WITH A CONTINUING HEALTH CARE PROCESS AND CONSTITUTES THE FIRST LEVEL OF A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
SPEAKING ON THE REPORT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID: "FOR YEARS PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WITH ITS STRONG EMPHASIS ON HEALTH PROMOTION, DISEASE PREVENTION, CONTINUITY OF CARE AND REHABILITATION AND WITH FULL PARTICIPATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, HAS NEITHER BEEN FULLY UNDERSTOOD, APPRECIATED NOR
DEVELOPED.
"THE INITIATION OF THE REVIEW IS OUR FIRST STEP TOWARDS REDRESSING THIS IMBALANCE.
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SHE COMMENDED THE WORKING PARTY ON ITS PRACTICAL APPROACH AND THANKED IT FOR ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.
IN ITS REPORT, THE WORKING PARTY STATES THAT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH AND MINIMISE THE INCIDENCE OF PREVENTABLE DISEASE, INJURY AND DISABILITY THROUGH QUALITY AND EFFICIENT PREVENTIVE CARE SERVICES AND TO ENSURE THE PROVISION OF A FRAMEWORK FOR THE DELIVERY OF CONTINUING, COMPREHENSIVE AND WHOLE-PERSON MEDICAL CARE TO INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR HOME OR NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT.
MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT GENERALLY ENDORSED THE OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES ADOPTED BY THE WORKING PARTY AND ACCEPTED ITS RESPONSIBILITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH MATTERS.
"WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICES AND TO THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE PREVENTED, THROUGH LACK OF MEANS, FROM OBTAINING ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT.
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