XN000022-1993-09-07 — Page 6

5

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1993

MRS WONG ALSO TOUCHED ON THE CO-ORDINATED VOLUNTARY INSURANCE APPROACH WHICH WAS DISCUSSED IN THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT "TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH".

THIS OPTION PROPOSES THAT MEDICAL INSURANCE SCHEMES WHOSE COVERAGE INCLUDES THE PUBLIC SECTOR SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY A DESIGNATED BODY.

"BY SCRUTINISING SCHEMES TO ENSURE THAT THEIR COVERAGE WAS ADEQUATE, THE BODY WOULD ENHANCE GREATER TRANSPARENCY AMONG INSURANCE SCHEMES, "THE SECRETARY SAID.

"COMPANIES WOULD BE PREVENTED FROM INCLUDING 'FINE PRINT' WHICH DEPRIVE A POLICY-HOLDER OF BENEFITS WHICH ONE WOULD EXPECT ΤΟ

COULD RECEIVE.

"THIS WOULD PROTECT CONSUMERS' RIGHTS AND ENHANCE THEIR CHOICE OF WHICH POLICY TO BUY, KNOWING THAT ALL WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE A GIVEN MINIMUM LEVEL OF BENEFITS," MRS WONG SAID.

ANOTHER OPTION DISCUSSED IN THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT IS TO INTRODUCE A CLASS OF ROOM IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS TO FACILITATE BETTER CHOICE.

AT PRESENT, PUBLIC HOSPITALS CONTAIN ESSENTIALLY ONE CLASS OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL BED THE GENERAL WARD.

——

"IF A PATIENT DESIRES GREATER PRIVACY OR MORE PERSONAL COMFORT + THIS IS NOT AVAILABLE AS A CHOICE, EVEN THOUGH SOME MAY BE PREPARED TO PAY SOMETHING EXTRA FOR IT, MRS WONG SAID.

||

SHE ALSO SPOKE OF DEVELOPING A

PATIENT-ORIENTED CULTURE OF

SERVICE AS A WAY TO HEED THE NEEDS OF PATIENTS AS INDIVIDUALS.

BOTH THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ARE COMMITTED TO A RANGE OF IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE PUBLIC SECTOR SERVICES AND FACILITIES MORE USER-FRIENDLY,

OF

MRS WONG SAID: "THIS IS EXEMPLIFIED IN THEIR PROMULGATION PATIENTS' CHARTERS WHICH WILL STATE THE STANDARDS OF SERVICE WHICH PATIENTS CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE.

"THE MEDICAL PROFESSION HAS ALSO RESPONDED TO THE CALL ΤΟ BR MORE PATIENT-ORIENTED, WITH THE HONG KONG MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PUBLISHING A PAMPHLET ENTITLED 'PATIENTS' RIGHTS',"

SHE NOTED THAT THIS ADVOCATED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY DOCTOR то INFORM THE PATIENT IN GOOD TIME ABOUT HER CONDITION, HER TREATMENT OPTIONS, WHAT MEDICINE WAS BEING PRESCRIBED AND THE FEES TO SO THAT SHE COULD MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE ABOUT HOW ΤΟ

BR CHARGED, PROCEED.

MRS WONG REITERATED THAT WHILE THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT HAD OFFERED OPTIONS FOR REFORM TO BRING MANY BENEFITS AND IMPROVEMENTS,

IT WAS UP TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO CHOOSE WHETHER REFORM SHOULD PROCEED AND, IF SO, WHICH OPTIONS SHOULD BE PURSUED AND HOW.

/"IT IS