XN000022-1991-07-10 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1991

MEDICAL AND HEALTH INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE

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THE GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS A WHOLE RANGE OF HEALTH STATISTICS AND COST DATA ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WHICH ARE ACCURATE AND READILY AVAILABLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLANNING ON A BROAD BASIS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

OF

MRS WONG SAID VITAL HEALTH STATISTICS SUCH AS INFANT MORTALITY RATE, LIFE EXPECTANCY, LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH, INCIDENCE INFECTIONS AND OTHER MAJOR DISEASES WERE COLLECTED, COMPILED AND UPDATED REGULARLY TO REFLECT THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE POPULATION AND TO COMPARE WITH INTERNATIONAL TRENDS.

APART FROM THIS, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO CONDUCTED SURVEYS AS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC

SUBJECTS, MRS

WONG ADDED.

HOWEVER, MRS WONG SAID THE PRESENT HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM HAD CERTAIN LIMITATIONS.

"IT IS ACCURATE BUT CRUDE. IT IS ADEQUATE BUT NOT SUFFICIENTLY · SOPHISTICATED FOR PLANNING WHERE MORE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION IS REQUIRED OR DESIRABLE, E.G. ON TERRITORY-WIDE DISEASE PATTERNS, ON HEALTH NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS OR SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPINGS AND ON THE CLINICAL HISTORY OF INDIVIDUALS.

"THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS AWARE OF THESE DEFICIENCIES; AND THE REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE HAS POINTED OUT THESE LIMITATIONS AND SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENT MEASURES," SHE SAID.

THE REPORT WAS NOW UNDER CONSULTATION FOR VIEWS FROM THE

COMMUNITY.

HAVING REGARD TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE CONSIDERING PRACTICABLE WAYS OF IMPROVING THE PRESENT HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM TO FACILITATE MORE EFFICIENT PLANNING OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND BETTER USE OF RESOURCES.

ON HEALTH COSTINGS, MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT PLANS WERE NOW IN HAND TO STRENGTHEN THE HEALTH ACCOUNTING SYSTEM TO ENABLE BETTER, MORE SOPHISTICATED PLANNING.

AT PRESENT, INFORMATION ON THE EXPENDITURE OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WAS AVAILABLE FROM COMPUTERISED ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS.

SUCH INFORMATION INCLUDED THE COST PER BED-DAY IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOSPITALS, THE COST PER GENERAL OR SPECIALIST OUT-PATIENT CONSULTATION, THE COST FOR EACH DRESSING AND INJECTION AND THE COST PER VISIT BY A COMMUNITY NURSE.

/"CALCULATIONS ARE