XN000022-1984-08-20 — Page 16

MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1984

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SCHOOL MEDICAL SCHEME FEE UP

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THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE STUDENT'S PARTICIPATION FEE FOR ITS MEDICAL SCHEME WILL BE RAISED FROM $5 TO $10 A YEAR.

THE FEE INCREASE, APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT, WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 1.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOARD EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESENT $5 ANNUAL FEE HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE 1971.

+WITH INCREASED COSTS IN GENERAL, AND OF MEDICINE IN PARTICULAR, DURING THE PAST 13 YEARS. IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO BRING THE STUDENT'S CONTRIBUTION MORÉ INTO LINE WITH THE OVERALL COST OF A SCHEME WHICH IS HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED.

AT THE SAME TIME THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTRIBUTION WILL ALSO BE RAISED FROM $50 TO $65 PER STUDENT ENROLLED. THIS MEANS THAT EACH DOCTOR WILL RECEIVE $75 PER STUDENT A YEAR.

THE SCHEME IS AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS FROM PRIMARY I TO FORM III.

ENROLMENT IS VOLUNTARY AND STUDENTS SHOULD ENROL THROUGH THEIR

SCHOOLS.

FOR AN ANNUAL FEE OF $10 A STUDENT MAY VISIT THE DOCTOR AS MANY TIMES AS HE WISHES FOR CONSULTATION AND MEDICATION.

AS AT MARCH 31, 1984 THERE WERE 308 444 PARTICIPATING STUDENTS, AND 262 DOCTORS REGISTERED WITH THE BOARD.

ONE IN EVERY THREE ELIGIBLE SCHOOL CHILDREN IS NOW PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHEME.

METROPOLITAN GROWTH SEEN AS MANAGEABLE

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SPECIAL ISTS IN THE FIELDS OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADING THE IR SOCIETY IN DISENTANGLING ITSELF FROM PAST THEORIES FORMULATED ON PAST CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, DR N.K. CHAN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

DR CHAN WAS SPEAKING ON THE OPENING DAY FOR THE NINTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE EASTERN REGIONAL ORGANISATION FOR PLANNING AND HOUSING. MORE THAN 240 DELEGATES ARE ATTENDING THE FIVE-DAY CONGRESS BEING HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG,

/+HE SECULO ****