TNAG-1362-FCO40-1808-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 170

I

Sir,

SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH & WELFARE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 17 APRIL 1985

Both Dr. Harry Fang and Dr. Henrietta Ip made

proposals for changes in the organization and financing of

Government hospitals and clinics. These are particular

timely since, as Dr. Fang mentioned, a firm of consultants

has recently been appointed to review the whole question of

the delivery of medical services. The terms of reference

require the consultants to consider what changes are needed

in the organisational structure, staffing and internal

administration of Government and subvented hospitals to

enable them to cope effectively with continuing expansion in

the years ahead. Both Dr. Fang's proposals for the

management of hospitals and clinics by autonomous boards of

governors with block grants from the Government, and Dr. Ip's

interesting suggestions on the subject of financing through

a form of medical insurance, are very relevant to the review

and I have already asked the consultants to give careful

consideration to them.

Since both Dr. Ip and Dr. Fang are

members of the Steering Committee which I have set up to guide

the work of the consultants there will be ample opportunity

to pursue these ideas.

2.

Dr. Fang suggested that it would be possible to

introduce quite quickly his proposed charges for individual

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