TNAG-1545-FCO40-2109-Hong-Kong-legislation-for-public-health-and-urban-services-1986 — Page 204

£

Annex 'A'

CONFIDENTIAL ##

For discussion

on 2 April 1985

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XCC (85)34 21

Copy No

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

HOSPITAL AND CLINIC CHARGES

OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS

Introduction

On

24

April 1984, having considered memorandum XCC (84)39, Members advised and the Governor ordered that the revised charges for third-class beds in government hospitals and outpatient services in government clinics be introduced. The memorandum stated that it had never been the Government's policy to Tecover the full cost of providing the various services which patients receive in hospital, and that the maintenance charge took account of the fact that

that patients admitted to government hospitals are provided with meals. On that basis it was decided that from May 1984 these changes should be fixed at $15 per bed per day for Asian diet, $30 for special Asian diet and $45 for European diet. There are arrangements for reducing or waiving these charges in respect of patients who are assessed by medical social workers to be unable to pay them without hardship.

2

This

Members were informed by the same memorandum that subvented institutions would be advised to adjust their charges in line with those at government institutions. advice was accepted by all institutions subvented by deficiency grant with the exception of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGH) which for many years has insisted on

1

providing free third-class beds and outpatient services.

3

TWGH's refusal to bring its medical charges into line with those at government and other subvented hospitals and clinics has been commented upon on several occasions by the Director of Audit. In his report for the period ending 31 March 1984, he referred to observations made in his report for 1976-77 that

"the Group has long since ceased to

to provide its services to the poor and needy and as the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals was financed so extensively from public funds

from public funds the time might have come to temper the dictates of tradition with the consideration of the need for equity in the application of public funds, because persons attending those (TWGH) hospitals received an advantage at public expense not enjoyed by those of similar

means who attended government hospitals."

CONFIDENTIAL

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