XN000022-1985-11-28 — Page 33

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985

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HE RECALLED THAT THE ISSUE WAS FIRST BROUGHT UP BY THE HONG KONG MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IN 1973 AND EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT THAT ONLY A STANDARD WARNING LETTER WAS ISSUED TO WARN TWO PAPERS AND A GLOBAL LETTER TO THE PRESS DURING THE LAST 12 YEARS.

DR CHIU SAID HE BELIEVED THAT IF PROSECUTIONS WERE ULTIMATELY INSTITUTED THEY WOULD SERVE TO REMIND ALL CONCERNED OF THE LAW.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SCHEDULE OF THE UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENT ORDINANCE WAS INCOMPLETE AND OUTDATED.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE SCHEDULE CAN BE WORKED OUT SO AS TO PLUG THE LOOPHOLES OF THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, + HE SAID.

THE FOREGOING WAS ONE OF THE MANY AREAS IN OUR EXISTING HEALTH SYSTEM WHICH DR CHIU SAID HE BELIEVED WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO.

DR CHIU SAID IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT THE REPORT BY THE AUSTRALIAN CONSULTANTS, EXPECTED TO BE OUT NEXT MONTH, WOULD BRING FORTH SOME WORTHWHILE CHANGES OF MEDICAL SYSTEM WHICH WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, HE SUGGESTED THAT BEFORE NEW CHANGES WERE INTRODUCED. CAREFUL AND THOROUGH STUDY SHOULD BE MADE INTO WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOULDER THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS- WHETHER THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS, WOULD ACCEPT THE NEW CHANGES AND WHETHER THE PUBLIC WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR BETTER MEDICAL SERVICES.

+ IT IS DEEMED NECESSARY TO PUBLICISE THE REPORT IN ORDER TO INVITE PUBLIC OPINIONS AND SUGGESTIONS, HE SAID.

HE SAID HE REGRETTED TO SEE THE PROPORTION OF MEDICAL EXPENDITURE TO OUR TOTAL BUDGET HAD BEEN DECLINING IN THE RECENT THREE DECADES AND ADDED THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE ALLOCATION BE REDUCED.

ON MORE SPECIFIC AREAS IN THE MEDICAL SYSTEM, DR CHIU SAID NO MORE THAN ONE STANDARD SHOULD BE ADOPTED IN EITHER GOVERNMENT OR SUBVENTED HOSPITALS IN ORDER TO MAXIMISE THE USE OF HOSPITAL BEDS.

HE DREW THE ATTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO THE HEAVY WORKLOAD AND POOR WORKING ENVIRONMENT OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR WHICH WERE WELL KNOWN TO ALL.

+ IF THIS SITUATION GOES ON, EVEN THE MOST DEVOTED STAFF WILL BE DISHEARTENED AND LEAVE, SO OUR MEDICAL FIELD WILL SUFFER FROM SERIOUS MANPOWER SHORTAGE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE,+ HE SAID.

/HE SAID