TNAG-1855-FCO40-2630-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 58

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL -15 March 1989

香港立法局

-一九八九年三月十五日

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doctor only in the area in which he goes to school. When that student is sick he should seek treatment under the scheme only from that doctor and may not consult another doctor, even if the latter is a participant in the scheme.

MR. CHUNG: Sir, will the Secretary for Health and Welfare inform this Council whether he will consider reviewing the scheme to enable a student to register with a doctor outside the area in which a student goes to school? During a recent interview with district board members an OMELCO group was informed that in some cases a student's home was far away and outside his school zone and it would be undesirable for the student to travel a long distance when he is sick.

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, I should begin by explaining the background to the present scheme. Until 1988, the system was school-based in that the head of each school chose the doctors with whom their students might enrol. In those circumstances, it was logical that the doctors chosen should be those practising in the same school district in which the school was situated. When the School Medical Service Board decided in 1988 to implement the present parental choice system, it was felt that the district approach would be simple and efficient to operate, and since 85% of students live and go to school in the same district, it was considered that this approach would be reasonably fair to students. Sir, the whole scheme is at present under review by a working group set up under the Health and Welfare Branch comprising members from outside the Government.

The issue is a very

complicated one and certainly the point made by Mr. CHUNG will be put to that review group for consideration.

鄭德健議員問:主席先生,鑑於家長自選醫生,中途退出保健計劃,受影響學生會被政府轉派到 另一位醫生登記診治,而並非由家長自行選擇,請問政府有否違反家長選擇醫生的精神?政府為 什麼不執行家長自行選擇醫生的既定政策?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, it is true that where doctors registered under the scheme drop out students already enrolled with them are re-allocated to other doctors in the same area who are willing to accept extra students. Sir, I should explain that the service is operated by the School Medical Service Board under statutory powers and is not directly operated by the Government. The point made by Mr. CHENG will certainly be put to the working group for consideration.