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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1993
"THESE PATIENTS WILL THEN BE ABLE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC SECTOR TREATMENT AT A REDUCED FEE, OR IN SOME CASES, FOR FREE, SHE ADDED.
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THE THIRD OPTION IS THE CO-ORDINATED VOLUNTARY INSURANCE APPROACH WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK WHEREBY PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER TO OFFER MEDICAL INSURANCE PLANS WITH GREATER OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY.
MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE PROPERLY INSURED HAVE MORE CHOICE THAN THOSE WHO WERE NOT, BECAUSE INSURANCE ALLOWED THEM ACCESS то PRIVATE MEDICAL, WHICH MIGHT BE BEYOND THEIR MEANS IF IT WERE NOT FOR INSURANCE.
AT PRESENT, SOME 14 PER CENT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE COVERED BY INSURANCE, AND THE MARKET IS GROWING AT AN ESTIMATED 40 PER CENT PER YEAR.
"HOWEVER, ONE CRITICISM OF INSURANCE IS THAT IT TS OFTEN DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT PROTECTION HE IS BUYING, SHE SAID.
THIS OPTION WILL REQUIRE INSURANCE PLANS TO BE SUBMITTED TO DESIGNATED BODY FOR APPROVAL.
A
THE BODY WOULD ONLY APPROVE PLANS WHICH MET CERTAIN CRITERIA FOR ADEQUACY OF COVERAGE AND APPROPRIATENESS OF PREMIUM.
WOULD LEAST ROOM,
"ONLY PLANS INTENDED TO COVER TREATMENT IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS REQUIRE APPROVAL AND THE LEVEL OF PAYOUT WOULD HAVE TO BE AT SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COST OF TREATMENT IN A SEMI-PRIVATE THE SECRETARY SAID.
SO
HOWEVER, INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD BE FREE TO SUBMIT OTHER PLANS TO THE DESIGNATED BODY TO RECEIVE A SEAL OF APPROVAL IF THEY WTSHED.
ri
'INDEED. I THINK THAT THIS WOULD GREATLY ENHANCE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AND STIMULATE THE INSURANCE MARKET, SHE SAID.
FI
TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, MRS WONG SAID THAT WHILE HONG KONG'S HEALTH INDICES WERE AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD, THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY.
"OUR AIM IS TO FURTHER DEVELOP PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AS TRULY PARTICIPATORY CARE, INVOLVING THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF INDIVIDUAL, HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, WONG SAID.
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THE MRS
IN THIS CONTEXT, THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING MAJOR NEW INITIATIVES.
THESE INCLUDE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A DISTRICT HEALTH SYSTEM TO PROVIDE AN INTEGRATED NETWORK OF PREVENTIVE, CURATIVE AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES ACROSS BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IS PROVIDED THROUGH A DISTRICT HEALTH COMMITTER, AND A PILOT PROJECT IS IN OPERATION IN KWUN TONG.
/IN ADDITION