XN000022-1989-06-28 — Page 22

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989

CONSIDERS "NOR IS IT CLEAR WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATION

FROM CHARITABLE SERVICE

THE PARTICIPATING DOCTORS OR A SUBSIDISED SCHEME FROM THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

++

THIS A HEAVILY

DR LEONG SAID THAT WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION OPERATED ITS OWN OUT-PATIENT SERVICES AT THE COST OF ABOUT $81 PER VISIT, GOVERNMENT EXPECTED THAT FOR A LESSER AMOUNT A SERVICE SHOULD BE PROVIDED BY PARTICIPATING PRACTITIONERS TO COVER A CURATIVE ANNUAL MEDICAL OF UNLIMITED VISITS BY SCHOOL CHILDREN.

HE NOTED THAT THERE HAD NEVER BEEN

A

THE SCHEME

CLEAR CONSIDERATION OF WHO NEEDED THIS SCHEME, AS ONLY 48 PER CENT OF ELIGIBLE SCHOOL CHILDREN JOINED IT.

FURTHERMORE THERE WAS NO DATA ON HOW MANY ACTUALLY UTILISED IT, NOT TO SAY DERIVE BENEFITS, TO MAKE MEANINGFUL ANALYSIS,

1

"AT THE END THE NEEDY STUDENTS SUFFER FROM THE LACK OF FROM AFFECTION OF DISINTERESTED PRACTITIONERS, AND THE DOCTORS SUFFER ABUSES OF THE SYSTEM BY REPEATED AND UNNECESSARY VISITS," HE SAID.

ACCORDING TO DR LEONG, THERE WERE TWO OTHER FALLACIES. FIRSTLY,

TO SECONDARY THREE THE SCHEME EXTENDED TO SCHOOL CHILDREN UP

ONLY, LEAVING A GAP FOR THE ADOLESCENT GROUP FROM SECONDARY FOUR ONWARDS.

SECONDLY, THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME WERE IN NO WAY BARRED FROM ATTENDING THE VERY BUSY AND HEAVILY SUBSIDISED GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS. THUS A SITUATION OF DOUBLE SUBSIDY EXISTED WHEN A CHILD UNDER THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME ATTENDED A GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINIC.

BY THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SCALES APPEARED TO BE

NOTING THAT THE RECENT RECOMMENDATION SERVICE BOARD TO CHANGE THE OVERALL CHARGING MORE WORKABLE, DR LEONG WARNED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION COULD ONLY BE AN INTERIM MEASURE, AND COME UP WITH A MORE DEFINED POLICY THROUGH THE UPGRADING OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN HONG KONG.

THAT

THE

ADMINISTRATION

ALSO SAID

MUST

ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, DR LEONG

THAT WHILST THE HOSPITAL SERVICES WERE BEING REVIEWED AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVED THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY PRIMARY HEALTH CARE STILL REMAINED IN HIBERNATION,

A

THE MEDICAL WORKING PARTY

HE SAID RECOMMENDATIONS HAD BEEN MADE BY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE FORMATION OF TO STUDY PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, YET IT REMAINED TO BE SEEN WHEN POSITIVE STEPS WOULD BE FORTHCOMING,

CARE, TURNING TO SCHOOL DENTAL

DR LEONG SAID THAT CURRENT REGULAR SCHOOL DENTAL CARE WHICH PROVIDED

CHECK-UP, ROUTINE CARE, MUCH TO PREVENTIVE SERVICES AND A LIMITED ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT LEFT BE DESIRED.

"THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONSIDERATION OF EXTENDING SUCH CARE TO AT THE FORMATIVE PRE-PRIMARY CHILDREN FOR IT IS MOST ESSENTIAL THAT STAGE OF DENTAL DEVELOPMENT, PROPER GUIDANCE MUST BE GIVE EVERLASTING RESULTS.

INSTILLED TO

/"AT THE