XN000022-1989-11-08 — Page 43

41

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1989

REFERRING TO SOME MEMBERS' SUGGESTION THERE BE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH POLICY LEADING TO A WHITE PAPER. MR CHAU SAID THIS WAS NOT THE BEST TIME FOR SUCH A REVIEW AS THERE WERE CURRENTLY TWO MAJOR EXERCISES INVOLVING THE BULK OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.

"FOLLOWING THE REVIEW OF THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS. THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS NOW BUSILY DEVISING THE STRUCTURE AND WORKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE HOSPITAL AUHTORITY THAT WILL BE ESTABLISHED NEXT YEAR.

"A FEW MONTHS AGO. WE LAUNCHED A MAJOR REVIEW OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE. WHICH IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

"I BELIEVE THAT BEFORE THE REFORMS TO BE INITIATED UNDER THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY HAVE BEEN EFFECTED AND THAT UNTIL THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE REVIEW HAS LAID DOWN GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES IN THAT AREA AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED HOW FAR IT CAN BRING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS INTO EFFECT. IT WOULD BE PREMATURE CONFUSING TO LAUNCH A FURTHER AND MORE GENERAL POLICY REVIEW. SAID.

AND

HE

MR CHAU NOTED THAT SOME OF THE POINTS MADE BY MEMBERS TOUCHED UPON FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

AT THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LEVEL. THESE INCLUDED THE ISSUES OF WHETHER THE GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS SHOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE ON AN OPEN-DOOR BASIS: WHETHER ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE DIRECTED AT THE NEEDY AND WHETHER PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS SHOULD PLAY A ROLE IN PUBLIC HEALTH CARE.

"THESE ARE ALL IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR ANY REVIEW OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE. MR CHAU SAID.

OTHERWISE. IMPROVEMENTS

IN SERVICE WOULD SIMPLY GENERATE ADDITIONAL DEMAND WITHOUT NECESSARILY ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO REQUIRE LOW-COST MEDICAL CARE." HE SAID. ADDING NOT BE AN EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES.

THAT THIS

WOULD

HEALTH

"THESE AND OTHER ISSUES RELATING TO THE KIND OF PRIMARY CARE SERVICE WE SHOULD PROVIDE INCLUDING THE FUTURE OF THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE ARE

BEING CONSIDERED BY THE WORKING PARTY ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE." HE SAID.

NOW

"OUR CONCERN FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE A HEALTHY ADULT POPULATION IN THE FUTURE HAVE NOT ENDED WITH WHAT SOME CRITICS MAY REGARD AS CRISIS-SOLVING MEASURES." HE STRESSED.

TURNING TO THE HONG KONG ACADEMY OF

MEDICINE. MR CHAU NOTED THAT PROFESSOR DAVID TODD. AN EMINENT MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION WELL-RESPECTED BY HIS COLLEAGUES IN HONG KONG AS WELL AS OVERSEAS. HAD BEEN APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE FREPARATORY COMMITTEE THAT WOULD OVERSEE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ACADEMY'S ESTABLISHMENT.

/HE SAID