XN000022-1988-11-16 — Page 43

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988

41

JUSTIFIABLE PRIDE IN MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

IN

THE GOVERNMENT'S JUSTIFIABLE PRIDE IN NUMEROUS ACHIEVEMENTS

SECRETARY MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES HAS NOT LED TO COMPLACENCY, THE

THE HON FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE,

T.H. CHAU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIV" COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"FAR FROM DENYING THAT PROBLEMS EXIST, THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE FACED THEM SQUARELY AND HAS CONCLUDED THAT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO

REQUIRED, PRESENT SYSTEM OF MANAGING MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES ARE HE SAID.

OF

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED POLICY DEBATE, MR CHAU NOTED THAT

STAFF REFERENCES HAD BEEN MADE TO PROBLEMS OF

WASTAGE, SHORTAGE HOSPITAL BEDS, AND OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS IN MANY PUBLIC HOSPITALS.

CONFRONT U9 "WHILE IT MAY WELL BE THAT THE PROBLEMS WHICH NOW

VERY RAPID EXPANSION OF ARE, AT LEAST IN PART, ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE

FIRMLY SERVICES WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THE PAST 10 TO 15 YEARS, I BELIEVE THAT

HAVE TO

HELD BACK ON SUCH

HAVE EXPANSION WOULD BEEN INDEFENSIBLE, HE SAID.

"ACCESS TO MEDICAL TREATMENT CANNOT BE THE PREROGATIVE PRIVILEGED FEW,' HE ADDED.

I

OF THE

'IN STRIVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE FULL RANGE THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACTED IN THE FIRM CONVICTION THAT

ΤΟ AVAILABLE

ALL, HOWEVER OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES SHOULD BE MEAGRE THEIR FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE, MR CHAU SAID.

"

HAD BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS, MR CHAU SAID,

WHO UNDERTOOK THE IMPRESSIVE A FACT ACKNOWLEDGED BY CONSULTANTS

THE DECISION TO REVIEW OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS THAT LED TO ESTABLISH A HOSPITAL AUTHORITY,

OF THE

PROVISIONAL

HOSPITAL

ESTABLISHMENT MR CHAU SAID THE AUTHORITY (PHA) MARKED THE FIRST STEP ON THE ROAD TO A MORE EFFICIENT, WELL-MANAGED AND COST-EFFECTIVE HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

ΤΟ BE "ITS KEY PRIORITIES WILL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR HOSPITAL STAFF AND TO OF A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR PATIENT CARE, HE SAID.

"

DEVELOP IMPROVED TERMS AND LAY THE FOUNDATIONS

AND

STAFFING

PHA WAS ONLY A FUTURE HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT AND AND WHICH WILL OF HOSPITAL

OF THE WHILE NOTING THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT

SETTING UP OF THE PROCESS OF

FIRST STEP, MR CHAU SAID: "THE AUTHORITY WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF REFORM WHICH WILL TAKE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO COMPLETE

EMBRACE ALL

SERVICES."

ASPECTS

OF

THE

A

MANAGEMENT

TURNING TO