XN000022-1989-11-02 — Page 13

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1989

DR LEONG SATIY AN ISSUE THAT NEEDED

MEDICAL MANPOWER.

DETAILED

DELIBERATION WAS

WITH THE EXPECTED EXODUS IN THE RUN UP TO 1997, THERE WILL BE

A CRISIS OF MANPOWER SHORTAGE IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS.

"THE IDEA OF EMPLOYMENT FROM OVERSEAS WILL NEVER DO, FOR THEY WILL NEVER REPLACE THE LOSS OL EXPERTISE OF WELL TRAINED LOCAL STAFF," HE SAID.

DR LEONG BELIEVED THAT THE IDEA OF UTILISATION OF AVAILABLE MANPOWER FROM THE LARGE POOL OF PRIVATE DOCTORS DESERVED

CONSIDERATION.

SERVICE OF

HE SAID THE RIGID BARRIER THAT DIVIDED THE MEDICAL HONG KONG INTO EITHER COMPLETELY PRIVATE OR COMPLETELY PUBLIC WAS TO NOBODY'S BENEFIT, AND THE SITUATION COULD BE IMPROVED BY BETTER INTEGRATION OF THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS.

HE SUGGESTED OFFERING ALL DOCTORS WHO HAD REACHED STATUS THE CHOICE OF FULL SALARY CONTRACTS; OR PART TIME OR SESSIONAL CONTRACTS FOR EXPERTISE ON OCCASIONAL NEEDS.

DR LEONG SAID THERE WAS A NEED FOR MEDICAL MANAGERS.

CONSULTANT CONTRACTS,

HE SAID WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION WAS TRYING ΤΟ PROMOTE A BETTER HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT CONCEPT THROUGH THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, IT HAD FALLEN SHORT OF THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO MANAGE 35 PUBLIC HOSPITALS.

ON MEDICAL FUNDING, DR LEONG SAID THREE ISSUES NEEDED TO BE PROPERLY ADDRESSED. THEY WERE THE SOURCE, THE DISTRIBUTION OF USE AND THE PROPER MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION.

SYSTEM,

HE SAID THAT UNDER THE CURRENT

THE FUND WAS POORLY MANAGED AS THERF WAS NO DEMAND TO PROVE COST-BENEFIT, COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND COST-EFFICIENCY.

FURTHERMORE, THERE WAS NO INCENTIVE FOR THE CLINICAL SAVE AS ALL, UNUSED FUNDS WENT BACK TO GENERAL REVENUE.

UNITS TO

"SERVICE AND CARE IS PROVIDED TO ALL

IN A HAPHAZARD MANNER, THERE IS NO DESIGNATION OF WHOM IN THE COMMUNITY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

"SINCE THE AVAILABLE FUNDING RESOURCES WILL NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR ALL IN HONG KONG, AVAILABLE CARE WILL ONLY BE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO ARE WILLING ΤΟ RECEIVE AND EVEN THEN ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, HE SAID.

++

THE GOVERNMENT MUST GIVE A DEFINITE DIRECTION OF HEALTH ECONOMICS AND UNLESS SUCH FUNDING ISSUES WERE PROPERLY ADDRESSED, THE MERE IMPROVEMENT IN MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND STAFF BENEFIT OF THE PROPOSED HOSPITAL AND PRIMARY CARE SYSTEM WOULD NOT PROVIDE REFORMS THAT THE PUBLIC MEDICAL SERVICES NEEDED, HE SAID.

THE

/DR LEONG