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The list of privately purchased medical items will evolve with advancement in technology and availability of new products in the market. The Hospital Authority has undertaken to review this list on a regular basis and has recently added to its inventory some items required by chronic patients. Government has also injected $20 million into the Samaritan Fund, relaxed its assessment criteria and simplified its application procedures with effect from 1 December 1995 to strengthen the safety net for those in financial need.

End

Temporary staff of Hospital Authority

Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Recently, I have received complaints about the Hospital Authority (the HA) employing a large number of temporary staff. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

(a)

the total number of temporary staff currently employed in hospitals under the management of the HA, together with a breakdown of these staff in each hospital by number, post, average salary and average period of employment;

(b)

the basis used by the HA for determining which posts should be filled by temporary staff instead of permanent staff; and

(c)

the criteria adopted by the HA for determining the renewal of contract of temporary staff and the range of adjustment of their salary?

Reply:

Although it is the Hospital Authority's corporate objective to maintain a core team of permanent staff to ensure the quality of patient services, employment of temporary staff is also necessary from time to time to meet short-term operational needs. Given the high turnover rate, it will be misleading to quote take reference on the number of temporary staff employed at any specific period. It is, however, worth noting that the salary paid to temporary staff in 1995/96 represents less than 1% of the total expenditure on personal remuneration.