XN000022-1990-09-02 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1990

14

IN

ADDITION, SOARING COSTS ARISING

WORLD'S

FROM EXPENSIVE, HIGHLY SPECIALISED AND HOSPITAL-BASED SERVICES HAVE LED MANY OF THE INDUSTRIALISED TERRITORIES TO RE-EXAMINE THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVISION AND TO SHIFT GREATER EMPHASIS AND RESOURCES TO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE.

"NEW SOURCES OF FUNDING HAVE TO BE FOUND, EVEN IF WE HAVE то MANAGE WHAT WE HAVE, BETTER," SHE SAID.

"CARING AND IS MOST

MRS WONG SAID THE THEME OF THIS CONFERENCE SPARING

SPENDING WHILE PRESERVING QUALITY" LIMITING RELEVANT TO THE HEALTH CARE SCENE IN HONG KONG RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT.

——

THE

SHE POINTED OUT THAT OVER THE PAST 20 MONTHS OR SO, GOVERNMENT HAS DEVOTED TREMENDOUS EFFORTS TO THE FORMATION OF AN INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TO TAKE OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF ALL PUBLIC HOSPITALS.

SINCE AUGUST LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT HAS EMBARKED ON A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

PREPARATION IS ALSO UNDERWAY FOR THE SETTING UP OF AN ACADEMY

OF MEDICINE.

"THIS GIVES HONG KONG A SPRING BOARD OF TRIPLE STRENGTH TO LAUNCH, FIRMLY AND PROUDLY, INTO MULTIPLE HEALTH SERVICE REFORMS.

"THESE ARE OUR GOVERNMENT'S INITIATIVES IN RESPONSE TO CHANGING DEMANDS AND RISING COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS," SHE SAID.

ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MEDICAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, MR. KEITH PEARSON, NOTED THAT MUCH HAD BEEN DONE BY THE GOVERNMENT то IMPROVE THE HONG KONG HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, REDUCE WAITING TIMES AND MAKE PUBLIC MEDICAL CARE MORE VALUED BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

HE FELT THAT HIGH PRIORITY ACCORDED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN HEALTH CARE REFORMS AND THE NEW INITIATIVES BEING IMPLEMENTED WOULD IMPROVE THE CAPABILITY OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

"HOWEVER, WE FACE A GROWING DEMAND FROM CONSUMERS FOR INDEPENDENCE IN MEDICAL CARE AND DIGNITY IN SICKNESS. DISPOSABLE INCOMES ARE RISING IN HONG KONG AND SOME OF THIS WEALTH IS ALREADY BEING CHANNELLED INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF MEDICAL CARE, HE SAID.

..

"WITH A GENTLE PUSH FROM THE GOVERNMENT, FURTHER EXPANSION THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN EASILY BE ENVISAGED," MR. PEARSON ADDED.

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