XN000022-1989-09-25 — Page 2

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1989

GOVT TAKING CLOSE LOOK AT PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING A CLOSE AND THOROUGH LOOK AT HONG · KONG'S PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES. THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

"IN PARTICULAR WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE PROVISION OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TO THE COMMUNITY AND WORK OUT THE RIGHT INTERFACE BETWEEN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND HOSPITAL SERVICES то ENSURE THAT AVAILABLE RESOURCES ARE USED IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER, HE SAID.

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THE GOVERNOR WAS ADDRESSING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 41ST THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSEMBLY OF THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOSTED BY HONG KONG MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

SIR DAVID STRESSED THAT THE MEDICAL SERVICES MET THE NEEDS OF BEYOND.

GOVERNMENT

MUST MAKE SURB THAT HONG KONG INTO THE 1990'S

AND

HONG THAN OUR

HE POINTED OUT THAT LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR THE PEOPLE OF KONG WAS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD, HIGHER FOR INSTANCE MOST OF WESTERN EUROPE AND HIGHER THAN THE UNITED STATES, AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES WERE LOWER THAN IN MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.

"WE CANNOT, HOWEVER, BE COMPLACENT ABOUT THESE ACHIEVEMENTS, HE ADDED.

ENSURE A

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS SEEKING WAYS TO MORE HEALTHY COMMUNITY SO THAT OUR PEOPLE COULD ENJOY THE BENEFITS HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY.

OF

"FOR INSTANCE WE HAVE A HEALTHY POPULATION BUT SOME BADLY OVERCROWDED WARDS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS, SIR DAVID NOTED.

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HE TOLD THE ASSEMBLY THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AUTHORITY IN THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR WAS INTENDED TO ADMINISTRATION OF ALL GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITAL.

THE HOSPITAL

IMPROVE

THE

USB

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"IN THIS WAY WE INTEND TO MAKE MORE EFFECTIVE AND BALANCED

HOSPITALS, OF OUR SCARCE RESOURCES BOTH WITHIN HOSPITALS AND BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR SAID.

NOTING THAT A SPECIAL THEME FOR THE ASSEMBLY WAS THE IMPACT OF NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS ON NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY AND SYSTEMS, THE GOVERNOR SAID WE HAD ALWAYS IN HONG KONG OPERATED AN ELABORATE SYSTEM OF CONSULTATION ON ALL IMPORTANT ISSUES OF PUBLIC POLICY.

A

PLAYED POSTGRADUATE

HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG'S MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS FULL IN THIS

NOTABLY PROCESS,

IN DEALING BOTH WITH MEDICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND WITH PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

MEDICAL THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVING ONE SEAT ELECTED BY THE PROFESSION SHOWED THAT HONG KONG'S MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN HELPING THE GOVERNMENT TO FORMULATE POLICY, HE SAID.

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