XN000022-1982-10-27 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1982

+JUDGING FROM THE GROWING DEMAND ON THE HEALTH SERVICES AND THE SCALE OF DEVELOPMENT FORESHADOWED IN THE MEDICAL PROGRAMME FOR THE 80S, I AM CONVINCED THAT THE CREATION OF A SECRETARY FOR HEALTH IS WELL JUSTIFIED.+

DR FANG NOTED THAT THE MODEST INCREASES TO THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ESTABLISHMENT HAVE BARELY COPED WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY PRESSURES OF MORE HOSPITALS, MORE CLINICS AND MORE SPECIALTIES.

THIS PREOCCUPATION INEVITABLY MEANS THAT A GREAT DEAL OF LONG TERM PLANNING AND POLICY FORMULATION MUST BE LEFT TO SOMEONE ELSE.

THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IS CHARGED WITH THESE IMPORTANT TASKS BUT HE AND HIS STAFF ARE GENERALIST ADMINISTRATORS, HE REMARKED.

+1 HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR THEIR SKILLS AND INGENUITY, BUT THESE QUALITIES CANNOT COMPENSATE FOR A LACK OF PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND WIDE MEDICAL PERSPECTIVES.

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+1 BELIEVE THESE TO BE ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITES, IF THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IS TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE 80S AND THE 90S.

+SPEC IF ICALLY, WE NEED TO SET THE RIGHT PRIORITIES IN OUR HEALTH PROGRAMME, RATIONALISE THE MANY COMPETING DEMANDS AND PRODUCE A COMPREHENSIVE BLUE PRINT FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.→

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WHILE APPRECIATING THAT MOST OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE 1974 WHITE PAPER ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN HONG KONG HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF WHICH HE IS CHAIRMAN, DR FANG SAID HE HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY AWARE THAT THIS PROCESS OF UPDATING IS NOT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF CHARTING OUR FUTURE COURSE,

HE THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT ONCE THE DECISION TO SET UP A BRANCH AND TO APPOINT A SECRETARY HAS BEEN TAKEN, A REVIEW SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT TO LOOK AFRESH AT OUR HEALTH SERVICES AND TO PLAN FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

+THERE IS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS ON WHICH THEY MAY DRAW.

+A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW WILL ENABLE US TO TAKE STOCK OF PAST ACHIEVEMENTS. TO DETERMINE PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE AND TO DERIVE THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM THE LIMITED RESOURCES WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL, SAID DR FANG.

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