WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1992
THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH WILL SCRUTINISE THE QUARTERLY REPORTS PREPARED BY THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IN CASE OF COMPLAINTS OR EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION,
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ALSO VISIT PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS EVERY MONTH AND OTHER HOSPITALS EVERY THREE MONTHS. "THEIR COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS WILL BE TAKEN UP BY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AND MONITORED BY THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH FOR NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS, MRS WONG ADDED.
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CALL TO DEVELOP PATIENT-ORIENTED CULTURE
THE
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, CALLED ON PROVIDERS OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO DEVELOP A MORE PATIENT-ORIENTED CULTURE SO AS
TO PROVIDE IMPROVED SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
SHE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD MADE A START BY UNDERTAKING TO REDUCE WAITING TIMES AT ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY UNITS AND AT GENERAL CLINICS.
"WE ARE ALSO TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE MEDICAL RECORD- KEEPING AND EXTEND THE LABELLING OF PRESCRIBED DRUGS TO ALL PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND SPECIALIST CLINICS,' SHE ADDED.
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MRS WONG WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION ON PATIENTS' RIGHTS BY THE HON TIK CHI-YUEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY}.
SHE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THERE WAS A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE ENSHRINED IN THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ORDINANCE THAT NO PERSON SHOULD BE PREVENTED, THROUGH LACK OF MEANS, FROM OBTAINING ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT IN HONG KONG.
THIS MEANS THAT SERVICES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ON THE BASIS OF CLINICAL NEED IRRESPECTIVE OF ONE'S ABILITY TO PAY.
"THIS IS SAFEGUARDED BY GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF PROVIDING HEAVILY SUBSIDISED HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SERVICES, UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE AND GENERALLY AFFORDABLE, SHE SAID.
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ADDITIONALLY, ALL PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS ARE SUBJECT REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 3 OF THE HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND MATERNITY HOMES REGISTRATION ORDINANCE AND SECTION 5 OF THE MEDICAL CLINICS ORDINANCE.
то FURTHER PROTECT PATIENTS' INTEREST, MRS WONG SAID THE QUALITY AND STANDARD OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WERE SET BY THEIR RESPECTIVE REGISTRATION ORDINANCES AND THE RELEVANT CODES OF PRACTICE.
THESE ARE REGULATED AND ENFORCED BY THE RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL BOARDS AND COUNCILS, TO WHOM THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ARE ACCOUNTABLE AS REGARDS MATTERS OF ETHICS, GOOD PRACTICE AND DISCIPLINE.
/THE CONSUMER