XN000022-1993-12-15 — Page 39

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1993

24

FULL-COST APPROACH IN CALCULATING MEDICAL COSTS

IN

CALCULATING MEDICAL COSTS OF PROVIDING HOSPITAL AND CLINIC SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ADOPT THE STANDARD GOVERNMENT PRACTICE OF THE FULL-COST APPROACH.

THIS COMPRISES STAFF COSTS, DRUGS, CONSUMMABLES, OVERHEAD DEPRECIATION ON EQUIPMENT AND BUILDINGS.

AND

THE UNIT COSTS FOR INDIVIDUAL SERVICE TYPES ARE THEN DERIVED BY AS THE DIVIDING THE TOTAL SERVICE COST WITH THE ACTIVITY LEVEL SUCH NUMBER OF BED DAYS, THE NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES AND THE NUMBER OF VISITS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THR DR SH LEE, IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"OUR

PRIMARY CONCERN IS TO ENSURE COST-EFFECTIVENESS MEDICAL SERVICES, THAT IS, TO ACHIEVE THE BEST QUALITY DELIVERING HEALTH CARE WITHIN AVAILABLE RESOURCES, DR LEE SAID.

IN

OF

++

"TO THIS

END, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OPTIMISES THE THROUGH REGULAR REVIEW OF THE MODE OF SERVICE DELIVERY

USE

OF

AND

*+

RESOURCES STREAMLINING PROCEDURES.

COST CONTAINMENT IS ENHANCED THROUGH REGULAR MONITORING OF EXPENDITURE PATTERNS, DRUG MANAGEMENT AND DRUG MONITORING COMMITTEES.

FURTHERMORE, CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES ORGANISED TO PROVIDE THE RESPONSIBLE STAFF WITH THE KNOWLEDGE SKILLS ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL, HE SAID.

ARE AND

"AS REGARDS THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, IT HAS IN PLACE A RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK.

||

AS

PART OF ITS BUSINESS PLANNING PROCESS, RESOURCE INPUTS LINKED WITH SERVICE OUTPUTS, TARGETS AND QUALITY STANDARD.

ARE

THE USE OF RESOURCES AT HOSPITAL LEVEL IS THEN EVALUATED BY THE HEAD OFFICE THROUGH A FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE REPORTING SYSTEM.

MONITORED

AND

CLUSTERING OF HOSPITALS AND NETWORKING OF SERVICES HAVE ALSO IMPROVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO RATIONALISE THE DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICES, PATIENT ACCESS

OF AND AVOID UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION ADDED.

RESOURCES,

HE

OF

ON THE AVERAGE RATES OF INCREASE OF MEDICAL COSTS OVER THE PAST

PER FIVE YEARS

VARIOUS FACILITIES, IT IS 16 PER CENT GENERAL HOSPITAL BEDS AND PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL BEDS, YEAR FOR GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS AND 15 PER CENT SPECIALIST OUT-PATIENT CLINICS.

YEAR

FOR

17 PER CENT

PER

PER YEAR

FOR

0

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