XN000022-1981-11-11 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1981

11

FOUR PER CENT OF GDP SPENT ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES *****

HONG KONG'S TOTAL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN 1980/81 COMPRISED FOUR PER CENT OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT FOR THAT YEAR, COMPARED WITH 4.6 PER CENT SPENT BY THE UNITED KINGDOM IN 1978.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON E.P. HO IN HIS REPLY TO REMARK BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBER DR THE HON HARRY FANG THAT ONLY ONE PER CENT OF OUR GDP WAS SPENT ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES,

MR HO SAID THE FIGURE OF ONE PER CENT WAS CLEARLY LIMITED TO THE ESTIMATE OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.

HE AGREED WITH DR FANG THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE AND ADDED THAT THE FIGURE HE GAVE DEMONSTRATED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

HOWEVER, MR HO SAID HE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT SUGGESTIONS THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD ASSUME A NEW COMMITMENT TO DEVELOP A GENERAL HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME.

HE QUOTED THE CHIEF SECRETARY IN 1978 AS SAYING THAT IT WOULD NOT BE PROPER USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR SUCH SCHEMES TO BE SUBSIDISED, OR ORGANISED, BY THE GOVERNMENT.

+THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE DO NOT AGREE THAT THERE IS NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS,+ MR HO ADDED. +THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY TAKEN POSITIVE STEPS IN THIS DIRECTION.+

HE SAID THE PRESENT POLICY FOR THE GRANT OF LAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS PROVIDES FOR PUBLIC AUCTION OR TENDER OF SUITABLE SITES THAT ARE RESTRICTED TO HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR PRIVATE TREATY GRANTS AT NIL PREMIUM FOR NON-PROF IT-MAKING HOSPITALS.

ON THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF DOCTORS, MR HO SAID CONCRETE AND PRACTICAL MEASURES HAD BEEN AND WERE BEING TAKEN, INCLUDING I

(A) THE APPOINTMENT OF A SENIOR CONSULTANT TO TAKE CHARGE

OF MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT-

(B)

(C)

THE SEEX ING OF ADVICE FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE ON THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING INTAKES INTO MEDICAL SCHOOLS AT THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND

CASTING THE NET FOR RECRUITMENT OF APPROPRIATE STAFF AS WIDE AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING THE USE OF CONTRACT TERMS FOR SUITABLE AND QUALIFIED DOCTORS.

/UN CORREOda sama