XN000022-1985-11-28 — Page 34

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985

HE SAID HE HOPED THE CONSULTANTS' REPORT ON THE MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION OF HOSPITAL SERVICE COULD PROVIDE SOLUTION TO THIS

IMPORTANT ISSUE.

TURNING TO MEDICAL SERVICE FOR THE SANDWICH CLASS, DR CHIU ARGUED THAT THOSE WHO COULD AFFORD AND WERE WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR BETTER SERVICE HAD NO REASON TO ASK TAXPAYERS TO SUBSIDI SE THEM TO THE PRESENT EXTENT.

+THEREFORE IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THIS LONG-FELT NEED INTO CONSIDERATION IN FUTURE PLANNING OF HOSPITAL SERVICES.

+MEDIUM-PRICED MEDICAL SERVICE WHEN SUPPLEMENTED WITH THE MEDICAL INSURANCE SCHEME WILL LEAD TO BETTER RESULTS, HE SAID.

DR CHIU SAID HE SUPPORTED DR HENRIETTA IP'S PROPOSAL FOR A STANDARD MEDICAL INSURANCE SCHEME.

+THE GOVERNMENT AS THE BIGGEST EMPLOYER, SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD TO INTRODUCE THE SCHEME TO BENEFIT CIVIL SERVANTS SO AS TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS, HE SAID.

ON THE HARDSHIP SUFFERED BY ESTATE DOCTORS BECAUSE OF THE RECENT SUBSTANTIAL RENTAL INCREASE, DR CHIU SAID THE ART OF HEALING WAS NOT A COMMODITY AND MEDICAL SERVICE SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS TYPICAL COMMERCIAL BEHAVIOUR.

HE SAID HE HOPED THE COMMERCIAL TENANCY SECTION OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY COULD REVIEW THE SITUATION.

TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE LOCAL MEDICAL PROFESSION, DR CHIU SAID HE EARNESTLY HOPED THAT AN ACADEMY OF MEDICINE COULD BE SET UP IN TWO TO THREE YEARS.

+AS IT IS AN URGENT NECESSITY TO MAINTAIN OUR STANDARDS, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXPEDITE THE FORMATION OF THE WORKING PARTY ON POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING LEADING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, HE SAID.

CONCLUDING HIS SPEECH, DR CHIU REITERATED SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES IN CONNECTION WITH MEDICAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG.

+FIRSTLY, SUFFICIENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT SHOULD BE GIVEN BY THE GOVERNMENT. ANY DECREASE IN GOVERNMENT ALLOCATION FOR MEDICAL SERVICES IS UNACCEPTABLE.

+SECONDLY, PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS MUST BE SOUGHT BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN MEDICAL SYSTEM.

+NEEDLESS TO SAY, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL ESSENCE OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

+APPROPRIATE ACTIONS CONCERNING THE WELL-BEING OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, HE SAID.

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