XN000022-1982-11-11 — Page 7

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1982

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MEDICAL SERVICES FEEL IMPACT OF POPULATION PRESSURE

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THE RELENTLESS POPULATION PRESSURE HAS HAD A PARTICULARLY CRUCIAL IMPACT ON THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WHICH ARE EXTREMELY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ANY IMMEDIATE AND MASSIVE DEMAND, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG SAID TODAY AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+THIS IS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO MEANS TEST OR CRITERIA GOVERNING THE UTILISATION OF THE SERVICES WHICH ARE AVAILABLE PRACTICALLY FREE OF CHARGE FOR ANYONE, HE ADDED.

DR THONG ATTRIBUTED THE MASSIVE DEMAND ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO THE DRAMATIC CHANGE IN POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

HE SAID THAT FROM THE 1970'S TO 1978 POPULATION GROWTH WAS ABOUT 70 000 YEARLY, LARGELY THROUGH BIRTHS. BUT FROM 1979 TO THE END OF 1981, THE ARRIVAL OF THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AND OTHER IMMIGRATION INCREASED THE POPULATION BY 600 000, MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS BY IMMIGRATION.

THE GOVERNMENT TOOK TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES WHICH NOT ONLY ABSORBED THE SHOCK OF SUDDEN AND OVERWHELMING DEMANDS, AND EVEN IMPROVED THE STANDARD OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE DESPITE THE ADVERSE DEMOGRAPHIC EVENTS, HE SAID.

+WE IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARE BY NO MEANS COMPLACENT AND ARE WELL AWARE OF THE DAUNTING CHALLENGES AHEAD IN OUR ATTEMPTS TO IMPLEMENT OUR AMBITIOUS PLANS,+ DR THONG SAID.

+THE ILL-INFORMED AND PREJUDICED WILL NO DOUBT CONTINUE TO HARP ON THE INEVITABLE PROBLEMS, REAL OR IMAGINARY, WITH OUT BEING ABLE TO OFFER ANY CONSTRUCTIVE OR HELPFUL SOLUTIONS.

+HOWEVER, WE ON OUR PART, WITHIN ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES, WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE OUR UTMOST IN BRINGING ABOUT THOSE

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WHICH WE ALL DESIRE,+ HE SAID.

DR THONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ARE UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW EACH YEAR, AND THE FORECAST FOR DEMAND FOR SERVICES ARE UPDATED PROMPTLY AND EFFECTIVELY IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH AS NEW POPULATION GROWTH, CHANGING PATTERN OF DISEASES, OCCUPANCY AND UTILISATION RATES OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND FACILITIES.

IN THE PAST NINE YEARS, FOUR MAJOR HOSPITALS AND TEN MAJOR HOSPITAL EXTENSION PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 5 200 BEDS OR AN INCREASE OF OVER 30 PER CENT TO THE BED PROVISION IN 1973.

/DURING THE