XN000022-1986-03-27 — Page 15

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986

SHE BELIEVED IT WAS NOT UNREASONABLE TO RECOVER AROUND 10 PER CENT OF THE OPERATIONAL COST FROM BED CHARGES AS THOSE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD THE CHARGE COULD ALWAYS SEEK EXEMPTION FROM THE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND THOSE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WOULD BE EXEMPTED AUTOMATICALLY.

SHE ALSO NOTED THAT SPECIAL SERVICES COULD BE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC AT COST WITH THE AIM OF PROVIDING A MORE DYNAMIC SERVICE WITHOUT INCURRING EXTRA COSTS FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

APART FROM LEVYING CHARGES, SHE SAID SAVINGS COULD BE MADE BY BETTER UTILISATION OF EXISTING SERVICES, SUCH AS BY DEPLOYING CLINIC DOCTORS TO MAN EVENING CLINICS THROUGH RESCHEDULING OF THEIR WORKING HOURS RATHER THAN PAYING OTHER DOCTORS TO WORK OVERTIME.

DR IP ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE SOME INCENTIVES SUCH AS TAX DEDUCTION BENEFITS, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE OUT MEDICAL INSURANCE.

SHE SAID A FRUSTRATING SITUATION HAD APPEARED IN THAT PATIENTS TENDED TO ECONOMISE ON THE TREATMENT THEY SOUGHT, TO THEIR DETRIMENT, BECAUSE OF THE RISING COST OF TREATMENT IN PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND OF MEDICATION.

+WHEN THE AVERAGE MAN IN THE STREET HAS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A COMPLETELY FREE MEDICAL SERVICE OF A LOWER STANDARD, AND A PARTIALLY PAID ONE OF HIGHER STANDARD, HE WOULD OPT FOR BETTER QUALITY,+ SHE SAID.

+RESOURCES FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF OUR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES MUST COME PARTLY FROM THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY, EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH MEDICAL INSURANCE.

+THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THROUGH WHICH THE MEDICAL PROFESSION CAN, WITHIN AN IMPROVED MEDICAL FRAMEWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE OFFER THE BEST TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE ILL, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THEY ARE RICH OR POOR,+ SHE SAID.

ON THE CONSULTANCY REPORT ON THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS, DR IP URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE PRIORITY TO RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH COVERED AREAS WHERE CHANGES WERE LONG OVERDUE. THESE ENCOMPASSED MANY OF THE MATTERS SHE HAD MENTIONED.

+IN THE MEANTIME, THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD LOOK POSITIVELY INTO THE PROPOSALS RELATING TO THE INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, ITS IMPLICATIONS, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES, WITH THE VIEW TO IMPLEMENTING THEM, SHE SAID.

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