XN000022-1978-10-07 — Page 3

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1978

GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FREE REPAIR OR RENEWAL OF ARTIFICIAL LIMBS

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THE WELFARE OF INJURED WORKERS TOOK ANOTHER STEP FORWARD TODAY WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REPAIR OR RENEW FREE OF CHARGE ARTIFICIAL LIMBS FOR THOSE WHO ARE MAI MED AT WORK.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID: +UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENT, AN INJURED WORKER CAN APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR NORMAL REPAIR AND RENEWAL OF PROSTHESIS OR SURGICAL APPLIANCE, IF HE CAN PROVE THAT THE INITIAL FITTING WAS A RESULT OF INDUSTRIAL OR OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS.+

UNDER THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE THE EXPENSES FOR THE INITIAL FITTING OF THE PROSTHESIS OR SURGICAL APPLIANCE ARE BORNE BY THE EMPLOYERS.

+HOWEVER,+ HE SAID, THE USABLE LIFE OF A PROSTHESIS OR SURGICAL APPLIANCE IS LIMITED AND AT PRESENT THE INJURED WORKMAN HAS TO MEET THE COSTS OF REPAIR AND RENEWAL.+

EMPLOYEES WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW ARRANGEMENT CAN APPROACH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION UNIT AT CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES FIFTH FLOOR (TEL: 3-688111 EXT. 431)- THE PROSTHETISTS-IN-CHARGE AT THE DAVID TRENCH REHABILITATION CENTRE, 9B BONHAM ROAD (TEL: 5-495121 EXT. 259)- KOWLOON REHABILITATION CENTRE IN KOWLOON HOSPITAL (TEL: 3-010111 EXT. 146)= OR SOUTH KWAI CHUNG POLYCLINIC (TEL: 12-231161 EXT. 265) IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

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