XN000022-1983-01-02 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 1983

REVIEW OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, 1982

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DEMAND FOR MORE AND BETTER MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES FROM THE PUBLIC CONTINUED TO GROW THROUGHOUT 1982 IN SPITE OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT GOING ALL OUT TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND WHAT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A REASONABLE LEVEL OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE.

THE YEAR SAW A NUMBER OF MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS WITH THE REALISATION OF SEVERAL MAJOR PROJECTS AND THE PROVISION OF ADVANCED MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT.

HOSPITAL AND CLINIC FACILITIES WERE FULLY STRETCHED BY THE IMPACT OF IMMIGRANTS AND THE GENERAL INCREASE IN POPULATION WITH ADMISSIONS AND ATTENDANCES REACHING ALL-TIME HIGH RECORDS.

IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS ALONE, MORE THAN 317 000 IN-PATIENTS WERE TREATED IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS WHILE 161 286 PEOPLE WERE SEEN IN GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED INSTITUTIONS.

DURING THE SAME PERIOD, NEARLY 10.6 MILLION ATTENDANCES WERE RECORDED IN THE GOVERNMENT GENERAL AND SPECIALIST OUT-PATIENT CLINICS.

PRESSURE ON SERVICES WAS FELT MOST AT THE THREE GOVERNMENT REGIONAL HOSPITALS —— QUEEN MARY, QUEEN ELIZABETH AND PRINCESS MARGARET, WHICH PROVIDE SOPHISTICATED, COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFICIENT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AT MINIMUM COST.

GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS TOO WERE BURDENED BY THE SHEER MASSES OF PEOPLE WHO QUEUED UP DAILY TO UTILISE THE SERVICES WHICH ARE EFFECTIVE, ECONOMICAL AND WITHIN EASY REACH OF THE GENERAL POPULATION.

THE DEPARTMENT STRIVED TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND FACILITIES AMIDST MOUNTING CRITICISMS FROM VARIOUS PRESSURE GROUPS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT SPENDING ENOUGH ON MEDICAL CARE.

ONE OF THE MORE VOCIFEROUS GROUPS DEMANDED THE EARLY CONSTRUCTION OF A HOSPITAL IN EASTERN HONG KONG ISLAND AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER HOSPITAL PROJECTS.

WHILE MORE HOSPITALS NEED TO BE BUILT IN ORDER TO MEET THE INSATIABLE DEMAND OF THE PUBLIC, THERE MUST BE PRIORITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BALANCED AND EFFICIENT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

SUCH PRIORITIES ARE SET BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH REVIEWS THEM REGULARLY IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CONDITIONS OF THE SOCIETY AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

/APTER BALANCING