XN000022-1983-03-23 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983

22

REVISED CHARGES AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS

*****

CHARGES FOR STAYING IN A GENERAL WARD OR THIRD CLASS BED IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND FOR MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS AT GOVERNMENT OUTPATIENT CLINICS WILL BE REVISED AS FROM APRIL 1, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE INCREASED CHARGES HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THE COST OF STAYING IN A THIRD CLASS BED IN A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE PRESENT $5 PER DAY TO $10. THE RATES FOR SPECIAL ASIAN DIET AND EUROPEAN DIET IN THE GENERAL WARDS WILL ALSO BE CORRESPONDINGLY INCREASED.

SIMILARLY, THE SAME SCALE WILL APPLY TO HOME VISITS BY COMMUNITY NURSES FROM THE PRESENT $5 PER VISIT TO $10.

-

AT THE SAME TIME, CONSULTATIONS AT A GENERAL OUTPATIENT CLINIC WILL BE INCREASED FROM $3 TO $5 PER VISIT AND FROM $3 TO 36 PER CONSULTATION AT A SPECIALIST CLINIC.

COMMENTING ON THE INCREASES, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE DAILY MAINTENANCE RATE FOR A THIRD CLASS BED IN THE GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS HAS REMAINED AT THE PRESENT LEVEL SINCE 1977 AND THAT THE CHARGES FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE GENERAL OUTPATIENT CLINICS WERE LAST REVISED IN 1980.

+EVEN WITH THE INCREASED RATE, IT IS BARELY SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COST OF THE HOSPITAL MEAL,+ HE SAID.

HE SAID THAT THE REVISED CHARGES STILL REPRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL SUBSIDY FROM PUBLIC FUNDS AS THE OVERALL DAILY COST PER BED WORKS OUT TO $382 IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, $441 IN PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL AND $583 IN QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL.

THE AVERAGE COST PER ATTENDANCE IN A GENERAL OUTPATIENT CLINIC IS ABOUT $30 WHILE THE COST OF A SPECIALIST ATTENDANCE AMOUNTS TO MORE THAN $80.

+WHILE CHARGES FOR THIRD CLASS WARDS ARE PURELY NOMINAL AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO RECOVER THE FULL COST, IT IS CONSIDERED THAT SOME INCREASE IS JUSTIFIED HAVING REGARD TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF SUBSIDY FROM PUBLIC FUNDS,+ HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THERE ARE PROVISIONS TO REDUCE CR WAIVE THE CHARGES IN CASE OF GENUINE HARDSHIP.

THE PRESENT $1 PER VISIT TO FAMILY PLANNING CLINICS AND THE METHADONE CLINICS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

/PREVITIT AND