XN000022-1976-10-27 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976

+ I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN REAP CONSIDERABLE BENEFITS FOR A VERY MODEST INVESTMENT IN THIS DIRECTION.+

DR. FANG GAVE HIS SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO ESTABLISH A DENTAL SCHOOL IN THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, HOWEVER, HE ADVOCATED THAT THE SCHOOL SHOULD NOT FORM PART OF THE EXISTING MEDICAL FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY, BUT SHOULD FUNCTION AS A SEPARATE ENTITY TO AVOID HAVING TO COMPETE WITH OTHER NEEDS OF THE FACULTY FOR MANPOWER AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

HE ALSO ASKED WHETHER GOVERNMENT WAS NOW IN A POSITION TO STATE ITS POLICY ON DENTAL CARE FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE AND TO INDICATE WHEN SUCH SERVICES MIGHT BE EXPECTED.

ON THE CURRENT POSITION OF THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE IN WHICH THERE IS AN ENROLMENT OF 94,000 PUPILS AND A PANEL OF 200 DOCTORS, DR. FANG SAID: +CONSIDERING THE STUDENT POPULATION, ITS COVERAGE IS NOT WIDE AND I BELIEVE THERE IS ROOM FOR DEVELOPING THE SERVICE. +

HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THOSE DOCTORS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE SCHEME FOR THEIR PUBLIC SPIRIT SINCE THE FEES INVOLVED $25 PER CHILD PER YEAR INCLUDING CONSULTATION AND MEDICINE HARDLY MADE IT WORTH THEIR WHILE.

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DR. FANG SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT'S SUBSIDY OF $20 PER CHILD SHOULD BE INCREASED SO THAT A GREATER NUMBER OF DOCTORS MIGHT BE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE.

REFERRING TO THE PARENTS' CONTRIBUTION OF $5, HE SAID IT SHOULD ALSO BE WAIVED BECAUSE IT WAS HARDLY WORTH COLLECTING.

HOWEVER, HE PROPOSED, PARTICIPATION IN THE SCHEME SHOULD BE MADE COMPULSORY WITHIN THE GENERAL FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF NINE YEARS OF SUBSIDISED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL ING FOR ALL.

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