XN000022-1980-09-10 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1980

DEMANDS ON MEDICAL SERVICE

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IF THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, IT IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT +STRIVES TO PROVIDE A NON- CONTRIBUTORY" AND ALMOST FREE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE POPULATION AND ENDS UP IN NOT SATISFYING EVERYONE'S DEMAND+,

THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR S.F. LAM, SAID THIS IN A TALK TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST TODAY.

HE EXPLAINED THAT DURING THE EARLY POST-WAR YEARS HONG KONG'S MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE WAS LIMITED TO PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.

THIS WAS LATER EXTENDED TO INCLUDE AN EMERGENCY SERVICE TO TREAT ACCIDENT CASES WHILE THE PUBLIC WAS LEFT VERY MUCH TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES IN OBTAINING CURATIVE THERAPY.

J

AS HONG KONG PROSPERED AND THE POPULATION GREW, SAID DR LAM, THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE YEARS HAD, BY IMPLICATION, VEERED TOWARDS THE POLICY OF PROVIDING A MEDICAL SERVICE FOR ALL WHO NEEDED IT · ALMOST A FREE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE.

+ IT HAS ASSUMED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE AND MADE THE HEALTH SERVICES AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO DEMANDED IT,+ HE SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT NOT ONLY PROVIDED INTEGRATED PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE MEDICINE, BUT LATELY HAD TAKEN ON THE PROVISION OF REHABILITATION THERAPY AND FACILITIES AS WELL.

SAID

WITH THE EXPANDING POPULATION AND GROWING AFFLUENCE, DR LAM, HONG KONG IS NOW FACED WITH A DOUBLE DEMAND ON MEDICAL SERVICES.

+THE POOR WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY THE FEES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR MAKE FULL USE OF THE CHEAP OR FREE GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT SUBVENTED SERVICES WHICH ARE PROVIDED FOR FROM PUBLIC FUNDS.

+ THE GROWING WELL-TO-DO WHO HAVE MONEY USE THE PAYMENT-FOR- SERVICE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THUS GENERATING A NEW DEMAND, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS BEING ABLE TO CHARGE WHATEVER THEY LIKE AND IN TIME MAKING THEIR SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE RICHER OR RICH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, SAID DR LAM.

THIS HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A LARGE MIDDLE INCOME GROUP KNOWN AS THE +SANDWICHED SOCIETY, WHO ARE FINDING IT MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO GET MEDICAL TREATMENT OF A STANDARD THEY LIKE AND AT A PRICE THEY CAN AFFORD.

ON THE ONE HAND, THEY DEMAND SOMETHING MORE THAN WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDING AND ON THE OTHER THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE LUXURY OF THE HIGH PRICE MEDICAL SERVICE AVAILABLE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

+THERE IS