XN000022-1980-03-12 — Page 10

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NO

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1980

EDUCATION GREEN PAPER TO BE SUBMITTED TO GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL SOON

***** *

THE GREEN PAPER ON PRE-PRIMARY AND PRIMARY EDUCATION IS EXPECTED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS FOR AUTHORITY TO PUBLISH IT.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON EP HO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT.

MR HO SAID A COMPLETED DRAFT OF THE GREEN PAPER WAS READY BY THE END OF 1979 BUT IT COULD NOT MEET THE INITIAL PUBLICATION DATE.

+THE REASON FOR THIS DELAY IS THAT AS THE GREEN PAPER HAS TO COVER A RANGE OF ISSUES IT INVOLVES A NUMBER OF INTER-LOCK ING CONSIDERATIONS, AND THE DRAFTING AND REVISING PROCESSES HAVE TAKEN A LITTLE LONGER THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, HE EXPLAINED.

NO SHORTAGE IN SUPPLY OF DRUGS

IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

****

THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS IS BEING MONITORED AT THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO SHORTAGE AT ANY TIME.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, THE HON DR K L THONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON WONG LAM.

DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT SPECIAL PROFESSIONAL MONITORING COMMITTEES CONSISTING OF MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENTS, SENIOR PHARMACISTS AND HEADS OF THE CLINICAL UNITS CONCERNED HAVE ALREADY BEEN SET UP IN REGIONAL HOSPITALS TO KEEP CHECK ON THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS.

EXPERIENCES HAD SHOWN THAT THESE COMMITTEES WERE QUITE EFFECTIVE IN SO FAR AS SUPPLY OF DRUGS WITHIN THE HOSPITAL WAS CONCERNED, HE SAID,

HOWEVER, DR THONG SAID THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS IN INDIVIDUAL CLINICS SOMETIMES FELL SHORT FOR LIMITED PERIODS.

THIS WAS BECAUSE OF LOCAL PROBLEMS OF STOCK-KEEPING AND UNEXPECTED DEMANDS FOR SPECIAL DRUGS, WHICH +ARE DIFFICULT TO ANTICIPATE, HE SAID.

IN VIEW OF THESE, DR THONG SAID SIMILAR MONITORING TEAMS WERE BEING SET UP IN THREE MAJOR REGIONS TO KEEP CHECK ON THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF DRUGS IN DISTRICT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

IN ADDITION TO THIS MONITORING MECHANISM IN THE FIELD, A CENTRAL DRUGS COMMITTEE HAD ALSO BEEN ESTABLISHED IN MEDICAL HEADQUARTERS TO CO-ORDINATE AND REVIEW THE SITUATION REGULARLY, HE SAID.

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