XN000022-1983-10-27 — Page 12

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1983

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MISS TAM ENVISAGED THAT THERE WOULD STILL BE SOME KIND OF MEANS TEST FOR THIS FUNDING SCHEME THE LEVEL OF WHICH COULD BE MORE FLEXIBLE THAN THE EXISTING LEGAL AID SCHEME.

+ASSISTANCE HAS TO BE GIVEN STRICTLY ON MERIT BASIS SO AS TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC FUNDS ARE NOT WASTED ON FRUITLESS LITIGATION, SHE STRESSED.

REVIEW OF HEALTH PROGRAMME URGED

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DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP TODAY CALLED FOR A REVIEW OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH PROGRAMME FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

DR IP SAID THAT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, WHILE TRYING TO PROVIDE EVERY TYPE OF MEDICAL SERVICE FOR TOO MANY, THE GOVERNMENT HAD ENDED UP BY NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH AND SATISFACTORILY FOR ANYONE.

COULD

SHE SUGGESTED THAT IN PLANNING THE PROGRAMME, THE GOVERNMENT

* CONSIDER CHARGING PATIENTS WITH MEDICAL INSURANCE THE

FULL COST OF THE GOVERNMENT MEDICAL SERVICE OFFERED,

* ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO BUY MEDICAL

INSURANCE BY MAKING PREMIUM TAX FREE SO AS TO REDUCE THE GOVERNMENT'S EXPENDITURE AND COMMITMENT FOR THIS SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY,

* OFFER PROFIT OR NON-PROFIT-MAKING PRIVATE HOSPITALS FREE

LAND, AND

* CONTRACT MEDICAL SERVICES OUT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO

REDUCE THE GOVERNMENT'S NEED TO PLAN FOR THE WHOLE OF THE COMMUNITY.

ON MEDICAL PROJECTS, DR IP SAID THAT HONG KONG SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE 150-BED MACLEHOSE MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRE.

BUT SHE STRESSED THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A PAEDIATRIC MEDICAL CENTRE-CUM-HOSPITAL.

AMONG OTHER ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SUCH A CENTRE, SHE CITED THE FOLLOWING:

* CHILDREN WOULD ENTER SUCH A HOSPITAL WITHOUT FEAR BUT

WITH A REASSURANCE THAT THEY WOULD GET BETTER;

* FRIGHTENED NOVICE PARENTS WOULD BECOME CONFIDENT ON

REALISATION THAT, WHATEVER THE STATE OF THEIR CHILDREN'S HEALTH, THEY WOULD HAVE A PAEDIATRIC HOSPITAL TO TURN TO;

AND

* WITH THE POOLING OF RESOURCES, RANGING FROM EQUIPMENT TO

MEDICAL AND PARAMEDICAL PERSONNEL, THEY WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENTLY UTILISED.

ON THE