XN000022-1995-11-08 — Page 96

66-

Medical/dental services for civil servants

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Leong Che-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Civil Service, Mr Michael Sze, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

In regard to the provision of medical and dental services for civil servants and their dependants, will the Administration provide this Council with the annual breakdown in respect of the following areas in the past five years:

and

(a) the overall expenditure on medical services, and the average cost per case;

(b) the overall expenditure on dental services, and the average cost per case;

(c) the percentage of civil servants, and the actual number, using publicly funded medical and dental services respectively?

Answer:

Mr President,

Like most good employers in Hong Kong, the Government has contracted to provide medical and dental benefits to its employees. This is also available for pensioners and dependants. The Government has chosen to do so through the Department of Health, in respect of general out patient and dental facilities, and through the Hospital Authority in respect of hospitalisation and specialist out patient facilities. The Government dental facilities deal primarily with civil servants, as do the families clinics there is a limited priority system for Department of Health general out patient clinics. In respect of hospitalisation and specialist clinics, civil servants receive no different medical treatment from any other members of the public - who are all entitled to the same medical assistance - but civil servants get this service at a reduced or nil fee.