10
TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1994
"AS REGARDS THE PERCENTAGE SUBSIDY APPROACH, WE NOTE PUBLIC VIEW. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PUBLIC VIEW WAS FOUNDED ON THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE PERCENTAGE SUBSIDY APPROACH, PROBABLY DUE ΤΟ INADEQUATE DRAFTING.
"I WOULD LIKE HERE TO REAFFIRM THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDY APPROACH WHICH IS SIMPLE TO ADMINISTER AND FAIR TO CONSUMERS; IF ACCOMPANIED BY THE TARGET WAIVER SYSTEM, IT WOULD ENABLE THOSE ARE LESS WELL OFF TO OBTAIN EXEMPTION IN AN OPEN AND FAIR MANNER. NEED TO UPHOLD THIS PRINCIPLE.
WHO WE
THE
"AT THE SAME TIME, WE SHOULD ALSO BE REVIEWING AGAIN APPROPRIATE EXTENT OF SUBSIDY AND HOW BEST TO TARGET THOSE MOST IN NEED," MRS WONG STATED.
THE ASSESSMENT
COMMITTEE SHOULD BEGIN ITS WORK DURING THR
SPRING OF 1994.
INCLUDING
FOLLOWING THIS, AN IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY COMMITTEE, EXPERTS FROM NON-GOVERNMENT SECTOR, WILL BE APPOINTED TO ADVISE THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSALS DEVELOPED BY THE ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE AND TO MONITOR AND EVALUATE PROGRESS.
MRS WONG REITERATED THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TWO OPTIONS WOULD NOT RESULT IN ANY ONE BEING DEPRIVED OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES BECAUSE OF LACK OF MEANS.
THE EXISTING WAIVER SYSTEM WILL BE RETAINED, SHE ADDED.
TURNING TO SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS, MRS WONG EXPLAINED THAT THEY CONSTITUTED A STANDARD OF ACCOMMODATION BETWEEN UNSUBSIDISED PRIVATE WARDS AND HEAVILY-SUBSIDISED GENERAL WARDS.
THEY AIM TO COMBINE GREATER PRIVACY, CONVENIENCE AND COMFORT WITH AFFORDABILITY.
IT IS INTENDED TO INTRODUCE SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS ON A PILOT SCHEME BASIS IN SOME PUBLIC HOSPITALS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
**I WISH TO ASSURE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT THEY WILL NOT REDUCE THE NUMBER OF EXISTING GENERAL WARD BEDS, OR DRAW AWAY RESOURCES FROM THEM, SHE SAID.
SHE ALSO SAID THE CO-ORDINATED VOLUNTARY INVOLVED RELATIVELY LITTLE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.
INSURANCE
APPROACH
COMPANIES
IT CONSISTS OF A FRAMEWORK WHEREBY PRIVATE INSURANCE COULD COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER IN GREATER OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY USERS.
TO
"HOWEVER, THE SCHEME WILL REQUIRE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DESIGNATED BODY TO APPROVE MEDICAL INSURANCE PLANS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITALS SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THEY PROVIDE ADEQUATE COVERAGE AND ARE TRANSPARENT TO THE PURCHASER REGARDING WHAT IS COVERED AND PROVIDED," MRS WONG ADDED.
/THE CONSULTATION