XN000022-1994-05-17 — Page 6

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1994

- 5

MEDICAL POLICY EXPLAINED

* * * * *

OF MEDICAL FULL

GOVERNMENT HAS DISMISSED CLAIMS BY THE COALITION SERVICES THAT IT WANTED TO INCREASE HOSPITAL FEES TO RECOVER THE ACTUAL COST OF MEDICAL PROCEDURES FOR PATIENTS IN GENERAL WARDS.

GOULD. PLANS.

PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR DEREK SUCH TODAY (TUESDAY) STATED THAT GOVERNMENT HAD NEVER HAD ANY

THIS WAS NOT ONE OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT "TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH" NOR WAS ANY GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE CONSIDERING SUCH PLANS, HE ADDED.

+

"GOVERNMENT'S PARAMOUNT POLICY IS THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE DENIED ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT THROUGH LACK OF MEANS," MR GOULD SAID.

"THE PUBLIC SECTOR PROVIDES A SAFETY NET. FEES ARE HEAVILY SUBSIDISED TO ENSURE THAT SERVICES REMAIN AFFORDABLE BY NEEDY PATIENTS.

APPLY WHERE NEEDY PATIENTS CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY. THEY CAN FOR WAIVER OF FEES," HE ADDED.

MR

GOULD POINTED OUT THAT THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT PROPOSED THAT THERE SHOULD BE THREE TYPES OF PUBLIC HOSPITAL BEDS IN FUTURE:

#

THE EXISTING PRIVATE ROOMS WHERE FULL COSTS WERE ALREADY

RECOVERED;

THE EXISTING GENERAL WARDS WHERE A LOW PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE COSTS WERE RECOVERED; AND

THE PROPOSED SEMI-PRIVATE ROOMS WHERE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE OPERATING COSTS WOULD BE RECOVERED.

TO RECOVER

A

THE EXISTING POLICY FOR GENERAL WARD BEDS WAS

THIS POLICY SMALL, AFFORDABLE PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE OPERATING COSTS. WOULD CONTINUE. THERE WAS NO INTENTION TO REQUIRE GENERAL WARD PATIENTS TO PAY THE FULL COST OF THEIR TREATMENT, HE SAID.

0

TRANSFER OF MS EVENA CHAN

* * *

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL MS EVENA CHAN TO THE POST OF LEGAL ADVISER ΤΟ THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE (PCC), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THE MOVE WAS A NORMAL TRANSFER.

HE SAID THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE (PCC) WOULD FROM JUNE START INTERVIEWING WITNESSES AND THE POST OF THE LEGAL ADVISER TO THE PCC WOULD REQUIRE :-

SUBSTANTIAL CRIMINAL LAW EXPERIENCE;

* GOOD CANTONESE AND WRITTEN CHINESE; AND

/* THE ABILITY