XN000022-1989-04-27 — Page 22

My

20

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1989

THE

"WE ARE PLANNING MANY CHANGES BASED ON WHAT WE UNDERSTAND TO BE BEST PRACTICE IN THE MEDICAL AND OTHER FIELDS WHERE SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY DELIVER SAID.

SERVICES,

+

HE

"HOSPITALS ARE NOT UNIQUE IN THAT WE SIMPLY CANNOT LEAVE EVERYTHING TO THE DOCTORS AND THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

"I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT WE WILL PRODUCE A PACKAGE THAT WILL SURELY AND STEADILY BRING OUR HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FROM NIGHTINGALE'S ERA TO THE 21ST CENTURY.

"SOME IMPROVEMENTS WILL BECOME APPARENT IMMEDIATELY, BUT SOME OF NECESSITY WILL TAKE US UP TO THE 21ST CENTURY TO COMPLETE.

"IT WILL BE A HONG KONG SOLUTION TO A HONG KONG PROBLEM," MR WONG ADDED.

MR WONG SAID THAT THE CHANGE SHOULD START WITH NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THE HOSPITALS.

**WE

HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM THE NOTION THAT IT IS JUST ANOTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.

"IT IS NOT LIKE THE KCRC OR HOUSING AUTHORITY WHICH ARE SELF

FINANCING.

"GOVERNMENT HAS TO BE RELIED UPON TO MAKE SO MUCH MONEY AVAILABLE OVER A PREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME," HE SAID.

"THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY MUST THEN BE GIVEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF AUTONOMY AS TO HOW IT WILL DELIVER THOSE SERVICES BY DECIDING HOW MUCH TO PAY TO ITS EMPLOYEES AND FOR OUTSIDE SERVICES.

"IT MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHO ARE THE BEST PEOPLE OR ORGANISATIONS TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICES.

"IT MUST ALSO HAVE LATITUDE AS TO HOW MUCH TO CHARGE FOR THOSE SERVICES AND THE MODE OF THEIR DELIVERY.

N

"ALL THIS IS TO ENSURE THE ECONOMICAL USAGE OF RESOURCES, POINTED OUT.

HE

PLAN

ADDED.

"ONLY THEN, CAN THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO AHEAD AND BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF HONG KONG, HE

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