XN000022-1977-08-10 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1977

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CLINICS WITHOUT REGISTERED DOCTORS MAY OPERATE FOR THREE MORE YEARS

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CERTA IN CLINICS THAT PROVIDE USEFUL COMMUNITY SERVICE MAY BE ABLE TO OPERATE WITHOUT A REGISTERED DOCTOR FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS.

THIS FOLLOWS THE PASSING OF A RESOLUTION TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO EXTEND UP TO THE END OF 1980 THE POWERS OF THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO EXEMPT CERTAIN CLINICS FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO BE UNDER THE CHARGE OF A REGISTERED DOCTOR.

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICE, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG, TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THIS POWER CONFERRED ON THE DIRECTOR, AS REGISTRAR OF CLINICS, WOULD CEASE ON DECEMBER 31 THIS YEAR UNLESS EXTENDED.

HE SAID THAT THE POSITION OF THESE CLINICS HAD BEEN REVIEWED AND WAS NOT FOUND TO BE CHANGED SUBSTANTIALLY.

+THESE CLINICS ARE PROVIDING A USEFUL SERVICE TO MANY AT REASONABLY LOW COST AND THEIR CLOSURE WILL NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC

INTEREST, HE ADDED.

THERE ARE AT PRESENT 321 EXEMPTED CLINICS EMPLOYING 289 UNREGISTERED DOCTORS COMPARED WITH 337 EXEMPTED CLINICS EMPLOYING 300 UNREGISTERED DOCTORS IN 1974 WHEN THE RESOLUTION WAS FIRST PASSED.

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