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WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1987

DECISIONS SOON ON FINANCING OF HEALTH CARE

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL SOON HAVE TO MAKE MANY HARD

HONG KONG DECISIONS ON THE FINANCING OF HEALTH CARE IN

IN VIEW OF ESCALATING COSTS AND RISING DEMANDS FOR A READILY AVAILABLE HEALTH SERVICE WHICH CAN MATCH THE STANDARDS OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MISS ELAINE CHUNG, IN MANILA WHEN SHE ADDRESSED A WEEK-LONG SEMINAR ON "HEALTH CARE FINANCING" ORGANISED BY THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK.

MISS CHUNG TOLD PARTICIPANTS FROM 16 ASIAN COUNTRIES THAT KONG HAD ACHIEVED IMPRESSIVE IMPROVEMENTS

IN PUBLIC HEALTH IN PAST DECADES AND QUALITY HOSPITAL SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE TO GENERAL PUBLIC AT TOKEN CHARGES.

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"THE PRESENT VIRTUALLY FREE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM MEANS POTENTIALLY GREAT DEMAND ON THE HEALTH SERVICES AND THERE A VERY HIGH UTILISATION RATE," SHE SAID.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT APART FROM OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS IN THE HOSPITALS INCLUDING OVERCROWDING, UTILISATION OF RESOURCES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, THERE WERE LONGER TERM CONCERNS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS RESOURCES.

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MANAGEMENT THE UNEVEN AND SUBVENTED LEVEL OF FUTURE OF THE USE OF

IN THIS RESPECT,

CONSIDERING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TO DEAL WITH THE DELIVERY OF HOSPITAL SERVICES. IT WOULD CREATE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WOULD ALLOW A MORE EVEN DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES, GREATER FLEXIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT, A SHORTER CHAIN OF COMMAND AND THE CHANCE FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN POLICY DECISIONS, SHE EXPLAINED.

"

TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF CHARGING HEALTH SERVICE USERS MORE FULLY, MISS CHUNG SAID THAT IT WAS LIKELY THAT INCREASING COSTS OF HOSPITAL SERVICES AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT RESOURCES WOULD INCREASE THE PRESSURE FOR COST RECOVERY FROM THOSE SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT COULD AFFORD TO MAKE A GREATER CONTRIBUTION FOR THE USE OF THESE SERVICES.

HOWEVER SHE ASSURED THAT THE PROBABLE INCREASED RANGE OF CHARGES SHOULD STILL BE WITHIN THE CAPABILITY OF MOST PATIENTS TO PAY.

"IF THEY ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO DO SO, THEN THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR EXEMPTION BY A MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER AS AT PRESENT, SHE SAID.

THE WORLD BANK AND REPRESENTED AT THE SEMINAR.

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WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION

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