WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1993
·
UNDER
THE GOVERNMENT'S ACCOUNTS DO NOT PERMIT YEAR-END PAYMENTS MADE THE TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS ΤΟ BE SEPARATELY AND READILY IDENTIFIED, NOR ARE YEAR-END PAYMENTS MADE FOR COMPLETED PROJECTS, SAID.
HE
THESE PAYMENTS ARE MERELY AN ACCELERATION OF PAYMENTS WHICH HAVE OR SHOULD HAVE FALLEN DUE BY THE END OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR, AND ARE MADE ON THE EXPRESS CONDITION THAT THEY ARE ADJUSTABLE AGAINST SUBSEQUENT PAYMENTS DUE TO THE CONTRACTORS, HE ADDED.
IT IS ROUGHLY ESTIMATED THAT THESE YEAR-END PAYMENTS AMOUNTED TO SOME $2 BILLION.
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PLANS IN HAND TO OPTIMISE HOSPITAL SERVICES
THE
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, HAS ASSURED LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE ΤΟ REVIEW THE UTILISATION OF HOSPITAL RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE OPTIMUM EFFICIENCY IN SERVICE DELIVERY.
SHE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THIS NEED "TO ENSURE THAT RESOURCES ARE DEPLOYED IN A WAY THAT MEETS THE MODERN NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND 18 COST-EFFECTIVE".
MRS
WONG WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON EMILY LAU WAI- HING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SHE NOTED A RECENT REVIEW ON THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL BEDS IN HONG KONG UP TO THE YEAR 2000 HAD POINTED TO THE NEED TO SHIFT THE EMPHASIS OF THE PRESENT PROVISION OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL SERVICES.
THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION SHIFT FROM THE OLDER URBAN AREAS OF HONG KONG ISLAND AND KOWLOON TO THE NEW TERRITORIES; THE AGEING POPULATION WHICH WILL INCREASE THE DEMAND FOR INFIRMARY FACILITIES; AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE DAY SURGERY AND OTHER AMBULATORY CARE PROCEDURES, THUS REDUCING THE NEED FOR GENERAL IN-PATIENT BEDS AND INCREASING THE INTERFACE WITA PRIMARY HEALTH CARE.
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AM AWARE THAT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY HAS PLANS IN TRAIN TO OPTIMISE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND IMPROVE HOSPITAL SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY, MRS WONG SAID.
"
THESE INCLUDE:
THE FORMULATION OF PLANS TO REDESIGNATE SOME 1,000 GENERAL BEDS AS INFIRMARY OR PSYCHIATRIC BEDS TO MEET THE SHORTFALL IN THESE SERVICES;
THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF ACUTE HIGH TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES AND HOSPICE CARE SO AS TO PROVIDE A MORE DIVERSIFIED RANGE OF SERVICES;
* THE NETWORKING OF HOSPITALS TO FACILITATE REFERRALS; AND
/* THE UPGRADING