TNAG-0968-FCO40-1187-Development-of-social-policy-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 15

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Medical Charges

47.

Many outpatient services in Government hospitals and clinics are provided free, for example maternity and child health services, child assessment and immunisation, ante-natal and post-natal attendances and tuberculosis and chest, social hygiene and leprosy services. Emergency treatment at casualty departments of hospitals and clinics and ambulance services are also free. A nominal charge of $2 (to be increased to $3 in June 1980) is made for other outpatient services including treatment, prescription, x-ray and laboratory investigations. $5 a day is charged for in-patient treatment in general wards of Government hospitals. Both in-patient and out-patient charges may be reduced or waived in cases of hardship. Government-assisted hospitals which are subvented on a deficiency grant basis operate on the same basis.

48.

Expenditure (for all services except treatment of drug addicts by the Prisons Department):

Medical & Health Medical

Capital

expenditure on medical projects under Public Works non-

recurrent

($m)

Department

Subventions

(m)

($m)

1974/75

357

169

50

1975/76

387

167

16

1976/77

450

187

28

1977/78

501

240

22

1978/79

579

284

96

1979/80 (estimate)634

340

127

For 1979/80 expenditure on medical and health services represents about 9% of the total estimated Government expenditure.

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