XN000022-1993-08-09 — Page 7

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MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1993

WHILE DISAPPROVING OF THE INTRODUCTION OF A COMPULSORY COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL INSURANCE SCHEME, SHE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SAW INSURANCE AS A WAY TO ENHANCE PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO PRIVATE MEDICAL SERVICES AND THEREBY GIVE THEM MORE CHOICE.

"TO PROTECT CONSUMERS, WE PROPOSE THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF ANY PUBLIC SECTOR

VOLUNTARY MEDICAL INSURANCE SCHEME AIMED AT COVERING

零申

SERVICES SHOULD BE REGULATED, SHE SAID.

REFERRING TO THE CURRENT HOSPITAL FEE STRUCTURE, MRS WONG SAID

IT WAS ORIGINALLY BASED ON CATERING COST AND WAS IRRATIONAL.

PATIENTS IN ALL TYPES OF HOSPITALS PAY THE SAME FER WHICH BEARS NO RELATIONSHIP TO THE ACTUAL COST OF TREATMENT.

"WE ARE THEREFORE PROPOSING THAT FUTURE HOSPITAL FEES SHOULD BE PEGGED TO A PERCENTAGE OF THE OPERATING COST AND THAT CERTAIN ITEMISED CHARGES SHOULD BE STANDARDISED AMONG ALL HOSPITALS, THE SECRETARY SAID.

SHE NOTED THAT WHILE MANY PEOPLE ASKED WHY THE COMMUNITY SHOULD HEAVILY SUBSIDISE PATIENTS WHO DID NOT NEED IT, THERE WAS ALSO SOME CONCERN THAT WE MUST NOT PEG CHARGES AT A PERCENTAGE THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD NOT AFFORD.

SHE GAVE A REASSURANCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT REMAINED COMMITTED TO ITS POLICY THAT NOBODY SHOULD BE DENIED ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR WANT OF MEANS, SO FEE LEVELS WOULD OBVIOUSLY NOT BECOME UNAFFORDABLE BY THE PEOPLE THEY WERE TARGETED AT.

"IT

WOULD SERVE NO PURPOSE TO RAISE FEES TO UNTENABLE LEVELS SINCE THIS WOULD BE OFFSET BY MORE PEOPLE APPLYING FOR WAIVERS," MRS WONG SAID.

ON

THE CONCERN THAT PEGGING FEES TO COSTS WILL ALSO RESULT IN RAPID ESCALATION IN LINE WITH MEDICAL INFLATION, SHE POINTED OUT THAT FEES WERE ADJUSTED NOW IN LINE WITH INCREASES IN OPERATING COSTS.

"SUCH PEGGING, TOGETHER WITH DETAILED BILLING, WILL IN FACT ENABLE CONSUMERS TO BETTER MONITOR COSTS AND TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THESE TO THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AS PART OF THE FEEDBACK PROCESS, SHE SAID.

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MRS WONG STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE WAS ΤΟ PROVIDE A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WITH INCREASED ACCESS, MORE CHOICE AND BETTER CONSUMER PROTECTION.

"TO DO THIS, WE NEED то MAKE IT BETTER MANAGED, MORE TRANSPARENT TO USERS, CHEAPER FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY AND FAIRER FOR EVERYONE, SHE SAID.

..

HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS WHICH OPTIONS IN THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT SHOULD BE PURSUED.

"THE CHOICE IS UP TO THE COMMUNITY,

MRS WONG SAID.

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