XN000022-1979-04-16 — Page 2

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1979

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131,000 IN SCHOOL MEDICAL SCHEME LAST YEAR

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THE GOVERNMENT-SUBSIDISED SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE POPULAR AS EVIDENCED BY THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PUPILS ENROLLED IN THE SCHEME LAST YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT ENROLMENT INCREASED BY 20,000 LAST YEAR TO WELL OVER 131,000 WHILE THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS ALSO ROSE FROM 750 TO 770.

SOME 210 DOCTORS, ALL PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS, HAVE JOINED THE VOLUNTARY SCHEME, PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE PARTICIPATING PUPILS LARGELY IN THE SIX TO 12 AGE GROUP.

UNDER THE SCHEME A PARTICIPATING PUPIL PAYS $5 A YEAR AND RECEIVES MEDICAL ATTENTION AND MEDICINE FROM THE DOCTOR CHOSEN BY HIS SCHOOL.

PUPILS MAY JOIN ANY DAY OF THE YEAR AND CAN VISIT THE DOCTOR ANY NUMBER OF TIMES DURING THE ENTITLEMENT PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF ENROLMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE MEDICAL SCHEME COVERS CHILDREN FROM PRIMARY ONE TO FORM 3, CONFORMING TO THE PRESENT NINE YEARS OF AIDED EDUCATION.

THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDISES THE DOCTOR'S RENUMERATION BY PROVIDING $30 PER YEAR FOR EACH PUPIL ENROLLED AND THE PUPIL'S $5 FEE.

THE GOVERNMENT ALSO MEETS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST OF THE SCHEME.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MARKED INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING PUPILS, THE PRESENT ENROLMENT REPRESENTED ONLY 20 PER CENT OF ALL ELIGIBLE SCHOOL CHILDREN.

HOWEVER, HE SAID THERE WERE MANY AND VARIED REASONS FOR PUPILS NOT ENROLING, THE MAIN ONES BEING

* THE GENERAL STATE OF HEALTH OF SCHOOL

CHILDREN IS SOUND AND

* THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES OPEN TO PARENTS=

FOR INSTANCE, THEIR OWN FAMILY DOCTORS, THE READILY AVAILABLE GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT FACILITIES AND CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS OFFERING LOW-COST MEDICAL CONSULTATION AND TREATMENT.

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