THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1982
DR THONG EXPLAINED THAT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED AGENCIES PROVIDE A MEDICAL SERVICE WHICH IS EFFICIENT, EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND, ABOVE ALL, AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE WHO NEEDS IT AT ONLY NOMINAL COST.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, THIS HAS THE EFFECT OF GENERATING AN INSATIABLE DEMAND BY THE PUBLIC.
*THE PRESSURE UPON AVAILABLE RESOURCES IS TREMENDOUS AND THE GOVERNMENT MUST THEREFORE CONCENTRATE ON PROVIDING A GOOD, BASIC AND ESSENTIAL MEDICAL SERVICE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT, WITHOUT OVERLY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL COMFORTS AND CONVENIENCES,+ SAID DR THONG.
THERE ARE, HOWEVER, SOME PEOPLE WHO REQUIRE OR CHOOSE IN THEIR MEDICAL TREATMENT A LITTLE MORE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCES THAN THE PUBLIC FACILITIES ARE MEANT TO PROVIDE AND ARE PREPARED TO PAY FOR SUCH EXTRA FACILITIES, HE SAID.
+ IT IS FOR THESE PEOPLE THAT PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS CATER,+ HE SAID.
DR THONG SAID THAT THE SERVICES WHICH THE HONG KONG BAPTIST HOSPITAL PROVIDE ARE GOOD EXAMPLES OF THE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR TOWARDS IMPROVING MEDICAL CARE IN HONG KONG.
HE COMMENDED THE DIRECTORS OF THE BAPTIST HOSPITAL FOR THEIR FORESIGHT IN PLANNING THE EXTENSION OF THE HOSPITAL.
HE ALSO EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT OTHER PRIVATE GROUPS WILL FOLLOW THEIR LEAD.
THE NEW WING OF THE BAPTIST HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 374 BEDS, BRINGING TO 648 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BEDS AVAILABLE IN THE PRIVATE INSTITUTION.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE EXPANSION PROGRAMME AMOUNTED
TO $40 MILLION, AND AS A POSITIVE FORM OF ASSISTANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT, THE GOVERNMENT MADE A LOW INTEREST BEARING LOAN OF $10 MILLION TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT, SAID DR THONG.
IN THE NEW EXTENSION, 32 BEDS HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS LOW COST BEDS, WHICH MEANS THE DAILY CHARGE OF THESE BEDS WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE CHARGES IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, INCLUSIVE OF BED, FOOD AND GENERAL SERVICES, HE SAID.
THE HOSPITAL'S BRADBURY HEART CENTRE IN THE NEW WING WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CORONARY AND INTENSIVE CARE FOR PATIENTS.
THE NEW OPERATING THEATRE SUITE COMPRISING SEVEN OPERATING THEATRES, ARE ALL AIR-CONDITIONED WITH AN UP-TO-DATE AIR FLOW SYSTEM WHICH WILL BE AN ASSET TO SURGEONS AND MEDICAL STAFF AS WELL AS THE PATIENT, DR THONG SAID.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS OF THE HOSPITAL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AU SHUE HUNG HEALTH CENTRE WHICH WILL PROVIDE A DAY NURSERY, A GERIATRIC CENTRE AND AN ENROLLED NURSE TRAINING SCHOOL, HE ADDED.
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