XN000022-1980-05-11 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, MAY 11, 1980

MORE STUDENTS JOIN SCHOOL MEDICAL SCHEME

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THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SCHEME HAS BECOME MORE POPULAR AMONG STUDENTS WITH A 30 PER CENT RISE IN MEMBERSHIP IN THE PAST YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD SAID THE NUMBER OF PUPILS ENROLLED IN THE SCHEME HAD NOW REACHED 170 574. THEY ARE FROM 763 SCHOOLS.

UNDER THE SCHEME A PUPIL WHO PAYS $5 A YEAR WILL RECEIVE FREE MEDICAL ATTENTION AND MEDICINE FROM THE DOCTOR CHOSEN BY HIS SCHOOL.

THE SERVICE IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO PUPILS WHO APPLY INDIVIDUALLY IN THE EVENT THAT HIS SCHOOL DECLINES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHEME.

ONCE A PUPIL IS ENROLLED, HE CAN VISIT THE DOCTOR ASSIGNED

TO HIM AS MANY TIMES AS HE LIKES IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

HE IS ALSO ENTITLED TO A FULL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION ON

ENROLMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SCHEME WAS AVAILABLE TO PUPILS FROM PRIMARY ONE TO FORM 3, AND WAS IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF NINE YEARS SUBSIDISED EDUCATION.

IT IS HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT WHICH PAYS A DOCTOR $30 A YEAR FOR EACH PUPIL ENROLLED. THE $5 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FEE ALSO GOES TO THE DOCTOR.

DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY AMOUNTED TO ABOUT $4.5 MILLION.

IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT MEETS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST OF THE SCHEME, NOW ABOUT $350 000 A YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH ENROLMENT HAS STEADILY INCREASED OVER THE YEARS, THE PRESENT ENROLMENT REPRESENTS ONLY 20 PER CENT OF ALL ELIGIBLE SCHOOL CHILDREN.

HE URGED SCHOOL AUTHORITIES TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE PART IN GETTING AS MANY PUPILS ENROLLED IN THE SCHEME AS POSSIBLE.

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