XN000022-1986-03-27 — Page 19

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986

THIRDLY, HE SAID IN THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE THE ACTUAL COST PER VISIT WAS $190 BUT THE PATIENT WAS CHARGED ONLY $15. THIS WAS VERY CHEAP.

ON WAYS TO CURTAIL EXPENDITURE, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REVIEW THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS AND ALSO POLICIES REGARDING THEIR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

HE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER WHETHER IT WOULD BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE TO PRIVATISE THE GENERAL OUT-PATIENT SERVICE.

DR LAM ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE BE PRIVATISED AND THAT A MEDICAL INSURANCE SCHEME BE PROMOTED IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE PUBLIC'S RELIANCE ON SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

LASTLY, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STUDY THE DEFECTS IN THE ORGANISATION, MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WITH A VIEW TO RECTIFYING THEM AND THUS IMPROVE OVERALL EFFICIENCY.

+MORE SERVICES NEEDED IN NORTHWEST N. T. +

****

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER A CHANGE OF EMPHASIS ON BUDGETARY POLICY WITH REGARD TO NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES, WHICH IS RELATIVELY ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE TERRITORY.

THIS WAS SUGGESTED BY THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH TODAY (THURSDAY) WHEN HE SPOKE AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1986.

MR TAI POINTED OUT THAT THE LARGE SHIFT OF POPULATION TO TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG REQUIRED CAREFUL AND FAR-SIGHTED TOWN PLANNING, SUPPORTED BY PROPER MEDICAL, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.

ON MEDICAL SERVICES, MR TAI NOTED THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THE STANDARD OF SUBVENTED HOSPITALS HAD BEEN LAGGING BEHIND GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

HE SAID THE SITUATION WAS PARTICULARLY SERIOUS IN WEST NEW TERRITORIES WHERE THERE WAS AN INCREASING NEED FOR MEDICAL FACILITIES.

+ IF THE SCOPE AND STANDARD OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE SUBVENTED SECTOR IS IMPROVED, THESE HOSPITALS CAN RELIEVE THE PRESSURE BEING FACED BY GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, HE SAID.

MR TAI