TNAG-1855-FCO40-2630-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 191

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ——8 March 1989

香港立法局 一九八九年三月八日

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應在補助醫院醫護人員疑慮加深前,盡早解決政府及補助醫院醫護人員不公平的情況,澄清和保 証補助醫院醫護人員獲同樣的對待,否則這星星可燎原的火,可能對香港醫療服務造成嚴重的創 傷。

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主席先生,在提供醫療服務時,政府應確保每區居民應在醫療服務及收費方面獲得同樣的對待 不過現時補助醫院在設備及政府撥款上,都遠比政府醫院為差。同時部份補助醫院因經費不足 部份藥物及醫療檢查被迫收費。就以服務東九龍、將軍澳、清水灣、西貢等一帶接近一百萬居 民,而以每月門診病人約24萬多人次的官塘聯合醫院而言,也因經費不足而被迫對部份藥物及 檢查收費;因醫療設備不夠而引至部份病人被迫轉往其它醫院診治。這不但可能使病人病情惡化 ,而且更拖長其醫治的時間,同時東九龍的市民與全港其它市民一樣,都是香港市民的一份子, 同樣繳付相同的稅項,在公平的原則下,應與其它市民一樣享有相同的醫療服務與收費,現時官 塘區的居民,大部份是居於公共屋邨或寮屋的貧苦大眾,他們收入有限,在現今的通漲壓力下, 僅足糊口,而官塘區又無政府醫院可供選擇。因此我不時接到他們對現今不公平醫療情況,或無 法負擔醫療費用,或因醫療設備不足下病人轉往其他醫院引致病情惡化的抱怨。雖然當局曾提及 無力負擔可申請豁免或減費,但對一個貧窮而又患病的居民,若仍要他們帶病的奔波申請豁免或 減費,那又是否公平和人道呢?政府面對這種不合理的情况,又為何不急謀解決呢?

主席先生,我同情和諒解醫護人員的工業行動,不過由於這些行動或多或少都會影響市民的醫 療服務,所以我懇請醫護人員以香港市民利益為重,暫停工業行動。而政府當局亦絕不應藉此機 會而漠視了醫護人員的需要。

主席先生,本人謹此陳辭。

HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: I congratulate Members who have spoken so far on sticking so carefully to their self-appointed time limits. We are well within the 60 minutes.

5.12 pm

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, I am most grateful to Members for their frank comments. Time will not permit me to respond to them individually but I can assure them that I have taken careful note of their comments and suggestions. Members have dwelt at length on the problems and deficiencies we now face in the delivery of services in our public hospitals. Unfortunately, many of these problems, such as overcrowding in government hospitals, have been with us for many years. With the best will in the world, they cannot be solved overnight.

Some of these problems have recently been highlighted by medical and nursing staff of the government hospitals. Their complaints have been loud and clear. I can assure them and Members that I have heard them and that I am determined to address them and to find solutions which are capable of being