XN000022-1984-11-08 — Page 21

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1984

DENTAL CLINICS PLAN FOR HOUSING ESTATES

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY, TOGETHER WITH THE HONG KONG DENTAL ASSOCIATION, OF ESTABLISHING DENTAL CLINICS IN NEW HOUSING ESTATES ON SIMILAR LINES AS THE ESTATE DOCTORS SCHEME, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THIS SCHEME HAD HELPED TO IMPROVE THE DISTRIBUTION OF DOCTORS' PRACTICES, AND MR CHING BELIEVED SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS COULD HELP BRING DENTAL CLINICS TO THE UNDER-PROVIDED DISTRICTS.

EARLIER, THE HON DR HARRY FANG HAD SUGGESTED LOW-INTEREST OR INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO HELP NEW DENTAL GRADUATES SET UP THEIR OWN PRACTICES.

+EVIDENCE HAS NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING TO SUPPORT THE VIEW THAT PRIVATE PRACTICE IS NO LONGER VIABLE AND THAT SUCH LOANS ARE THEREFORE NECESSARY, MR CHING SAID.

HE ADDED THAT SUCH LOANS WOULD BE A FORM OF SUBSIDY AND WOULD NEED +VERY CAREFUL+ CONSIDERATION ON HEALTH CARE GROUNDS.

ON DR FANG'S SUGGESTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HONG KONG ACADEMY OF MEDICINE TO VALIDATE HIGHER QUALIFICATIONS FOR CLINICAL SPECIALISTS AND TO MAINTAIN INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS, MR CHING SAID IT WOULD RECEIVE MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

+THE PROBLEMS INHERENT IN THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR POST- GRADUATE MEDICAL TRAINING WERE IN FACT ONLY RECENTLY DISCUSSED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH DR FANG CHAIRS, AND IT WAS RESOLVED THAT A WORKING PARTY SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO CONSIDER WHAT CHANGES TO THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS ARE NEEDED. WORK ON THIS SHOULD START FAIRLY SOON, HE SAID.

AS FOR THE HON DR HO KAM-FAI'S SUGGESTION THAT A WIDOWHOOD AND A CHRONIC SICKNESS SUPPLEMENT BE ADDED TO THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, MR CHING SAID IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED AND ADVICE WOULD BE SOUGHT FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

+BUT MY OWN INITIAL REACTION IS THAT THESE TWO SUGGESTED NEW CATEGORIES OF SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFITS ARE PROBLABLY UNNECESSARY.

+CHRONICALLY SICK PERSONS AND WIDOWS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN ARE, OF COURSE, ALREADY ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE INSOFAR AS THE IR ESSENTAIL NEEDS ARE CONCERNED.

/+SUCH SPECIAL ...................