XN000022-1973-10-31 — Page 7

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Wednesday, October 31, 1973

To make of the disabled better contributing members of society, rehabilitation work should be expanded by the provision of physiotherapy and occupational therapy departments in new polyclinics. More non-acute beds

implies the recognition that some cases will require long-term hospitalisation, for example, paraplegic patients.

With the Tung Wah group of hospitals joining government and assisted hospitals in the regionalisation scheme, the policy of free beds in the group's hospitals should be revised so that the government fee of $2 a day inclusive in general wards be applicable to all hospitals within

the scheme. The remission of fees for those unable to

pay will continue to apply. General ward fees should be raised from $2 to $3 a day, and then to $5 a day within 18 months of the first raise, to take account of

increasing costs. The infirmaries maintained by the

Tung Wah group for chronic cases should continue to be

free.

Note to Editors:

Sir Albert Rodrigues, Chairman of the Medical

Development Advisory Committee, and Dr. G.H. Choa,

Director of Medical and Health Services, and the

Committee's vice-chairman, will meet members of the

Press, radio and TV to answer questions on the report at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 1, (tomorrow) in the

theatre of the Information Services Department, 5th floor,

Beaconsfield House.

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