XN000022-1982-04-28 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1982

SCANNERS FOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS BY END OF YE..

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COMPUTER ISED TOMOGRAPHY SCANNERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES WILL BE INSTALLED AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AND THE NEW PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SUBJECT TO FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVAL, THE THIRD SCANNER SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL BY THE MIDDLE OF 1983 AND ANOTHER ONE IN THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL SHORTLY AFTER, HE ADDED.

DR THONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION BY AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, MISS LYDIA DUNN.

MISS DUNN HAD ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPLAIN WHY BODY SCANNING DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND WHAT IT IS DOING TO OVERCOME THIS DEFICIENCY.

DR THONG EXPLAINED THAT THE IDEA OF ACQUIRING SCANNERS FOR MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS WAS FIRST MOOTED IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN 1977.

TO ACQUIRE FUNDS FOR THIS EQUIPMENT, AN ITEM WAS INCLUDED IN THE DEPARTMENTAL DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR 1978/79, IN THE HOPE THAT IF EVERYTHING WENT WELL, THE FIRST SCANNER COULD BE INSTALLED AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL BY LATE 1979, HE SAID.

IN THE EVENT, HOWEVER, IT HAS TAKEN MORE TIME THAN AT FIRST ENVISAGED BECAUSE OF THREE MAIN FACTORS, SAID DR THONG.

FIRSTLY, THE USUAL AND NECESSARY FINANCIAL CONTROL, TENDER AND PUBLIC WORKS PROCEDURES HAD TO BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO.

SECONDLY, DEVELOPMENT IN THIS NEW TYPE OF DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RAPID SO THAT BY LATE 1978, THE ORIGINAL ORDER FOR A HEAD AND NECK SCANNER HAD TO BE SUBSTITUTED BY A NEW ONE FOR A WHOLE BODY SCANNER, WHICH WAS A MORE ADVANCED MODEL.

BECAUSE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, SAID DR THONG, A FRESH REQUEST WAS MADE WHICH MEANT RETRACING ALL THE STEPS AND PROCEDURES NECESSARY FOR JUSTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FINALLY AGREED TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE NECESSARY FUNDS IN JULY 1979 AND TENDER PROCEDURES WERE THEN INSTITUTED.

THE TENDER WAS AWARDED TO EMI CO. FOR A WHOLE BODY SCANNER IN FEBRUARY 1980.

UNFORTUNATELY, SAID DR THONG, AT THIS CRUCIAL STAGE THE EMI CO. IN APRIL 1980 EXPRESSED THEIR INTENTION TO GIVE UP THE IR INTERESTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SCANNERS.

THIS UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT AT THE END OF AN EXTENDED AND SOMEWHAT STRENUOUS PROCEDURAL EXERCISE WAS TO CAUSE THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD TO CANCEL THE ORDER TO EMI IN OCTOBER 1980, HE SAID.

IN AN ATTEMPT