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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1993
STAFF OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH ALSO MET HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES; CONSULTED ALL DISTRICT BOARDS; AND HEARD THE VOICES OF THOUSANDS AT PUBLIC FORUMS ORGANISED BY DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES AND PATIENTS'
REPRESENTATIVES.
DR
THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ALSO RECEIVED THE SUPPORT OF CHARLES BENNETT, THE WORLD-RENOWNED HEALTH ECONOMIST SPECIALLY ASSIGNED BY
THE WORLD-HEALTH ORGANISATION TO EVALUATE HONG KONG'S HEALTH CARE REFORM OPTIONS, WHO OPINED THAT "CHANGES IN HONG KONG, AS IN ALL COUNTRIES, WILL TAKE TIME; HOWEVER, THE PROCESS IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION; AND HONG KONG OFFERS LESSONS FOR POLICY-MAKERS WHO ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE IN OTHER COUNTRIES".
THAT:
TURNING TO THE SPECIFIC OPTIONS IN THE DOCUMENT, MRS WONG NOTED
THERE HAVE BEEN CLARION CALLS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE EXISTING HEALTH CARE SYSTEM;
THERE IS FEAR THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF ITEMISED CHARGES WOULD LEAD TO PATIENTS BEING DENIED ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE; AND
THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG BODY OF SUPPORT FOR SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND THE CO-ORDINATED VOLUNTARY INSURANCE APPROACH.
ON ITEMISED CHARGES, THE SECRETARY BELIEVED THAT THE FEAR WAS BASED ON IGNORANCE AND SPREAD BY CONVENIENT CARPING.
THE STANDARDISATION OF ITEMISED CHARGES WILL ENSURE CONSUMER PROTECTION AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE SYSTEM, SHE SAID.
SHE HOPES THROUGH CLEAR DEMARCATION OF ITEMISED CHARGES ΤΟ STANDARDISE THE EXISTING PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT CHARGES IMPOSED BY DIFFERENT PUBLIC HOSPITALS.
SHE ALSO HOPES TO REDUCE UNCERTAINTY AND ANXIETY OF PATIENTS.
"NO
MRS WONG REITERATED THE SAFETY NET UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S AWAY" POLICY WHICH ENSURED THAT NO ONE WAS DENIED ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT THROUGH LACK OF MEANS.
TURN
L
THIS IS IN THE LAW, SHE STATED. "THIS IS OUR POLICY. THIS WILL REMAIN OUR POLICY."
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