TUNG WAH HOSPITALS
543
Addressing members of the Hongkong Rotary Club last Tuesday, Mr. M.K. Lo, a past Director of the Tung Wah Hospitals, gave an interesting resume of aims, functions and achievements of this great public institution. Apart from the medical work of the hospitals, he said, the Tung Wah performs a great variety of duties of public, philanthropic and charitable nature. The Tung Wah runs about a dozen Chinese schools, with over 1,000 pupils; it settles local disputes of a commercial nature, chiefly referred to the Hospital by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs; it investigates cases of kidnapped boys and pursues lengthy inquiries with a view to restoring the kidnapped to their families; undertakes the payment of gratuities to dependents on behalf of European companies; carries out the removal of ancient graves.
Mr. Lo mentioned many other very useful services being performed by the Tung Wah Hospitals, all of which makes interesting reading. In fact, it would seem that while the work of healing the sick is not subservient to other functions of the institution, it is just one of the multitudinous duties engaging the time and attention of the Directors. There is no lack of appreciation of the work done by this very valuable institution. It is timely to suggest, however, that decentralisation and delegation might now be considered. That the full time of the Directors might very well be devoted to the Hospital itself is revealed by the figures, supplied in Mr. Lo's address, and which that gentleman justifiably termed "staggering." The number of out-patients in 1931 was 491,600, and in 1932, 466,899. Census figures revealed that the Colony's population was less than a million, so that half of the population was receiving out-patient treatment at the Tung Wah Hospitals.
Naturally, with the enormous growth in the number of patients, the expenditure has risen proportionately. In 1896 it was approximately $47,500. Last year it was exactly $529,852.52. In black and white, that looks a large sum of money, but when it is considered that this amount covers salaries, maintenance of buildings and provision of supplies, the surprising result is that the cost per patient is approximately one dollar.
In January of this year, His Excellency the Governor, speaking at the Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, gave some well-considered advice when he warned the Committee against too great expansion. Quality in hospital work, said His Excellency, was always preferable to quantity. There was sound common sense in the remarks of the Governor, for it will be readily admitted that the Tung Wah Hospitals do not attain the standards of foreign hospitals. His Excellency advised the engagement of a manager, a suggestion which commends itself. Suggestions like these may seem to threaten a time-honoured atmosphere, but efficiency is the watchword of the day, and sentiment must be sacrificed. Public service must be regarded as public service and less as a stepping stone to honour.
Moreover, efficiency must begin at the bottom. Mr. Lo, in his address, said that in 1925, $600,000 was raised for flood relief in Canton; in 1924 $580,000 was raised for similar objects in China: and in the past two years nearly $1,000,000 has been raised. China's floods are beyond Hongkong's preventing. The figures illustrate, however, the possibilities of more effective other work if floods can be obviated. Similarly, there is a good deal in the purely local work that should not be necessary. It must be remembered that if more money were spent on improvement of local housing conditions and teaching of hygiene, less money would be required for hospitals. Charity is uneconomic.
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TUNG WAH HOSPITALS
543
•
Addressing members of the Hongkong Rotary Club last Tuesday, Mr. M.k. Lo, a past Director of the Tung Wah Hos- pitals, gave an interesting resume of aims, functions and achievements of this great public institution. Apart from the medical work of the hospitals, he said, the Tung Wah performs a great variety of duties of public, philanthropic and charitable nature. The Tung Wah runs about a dozen Chinese schools, with over 1,000 pupils; it settles local disputes of a commercial nature, chiefly referred to the Hospital by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs; it investigates cases of kidnapped boys and pursues lengthy inquiries with a view to restoring the kidnapped to their families; undertakes the payment of gratuities to dependents on behalf of European companies; carries out the removal of ancient graves.
Mr. mentioned many other very useful services being performed by the Tung Wah Hospitals, all of which makes interesting read- ing. In fact, it would seem that while the work of healing the sick is not subservient to other functions of the institution,
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Lo
is just one of the multitudinous duties engaging the time and attention of the Directors. There is no lack of appreciation. of the work done by this very valuable institution. It is timely to suggest, however, that decentralisation and delegation might now be considered. That the full time of the Directors night very well be devoted to the Hospital itself is revealed by the figures, supplied in Mr. Lo's address, and which that
entleman justifiably termed "staggering." The number of out- patients in 1931 was 491,600, and in 1932, :466,899. census figures revealed that the Colony's population was less thar a million, so that half of the population was receiving out-patient treatment at the Tung Wah Hospitals. Naturally, with the enormous growth in the number of patients, the ex- penditure has risen proportionately. In 1896 it was approximately
47,500. Last year it was exactly $529,852.52. In black and White, that looks a large sum of money, but when it is considered
that this amount covers salaries, maintenance of buildings and provision of supplies, the surprising result is that the cost per patient is approximately one dollar. In January of this year, His Excellency the Governor, speaking at the Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, gave some wel 1-considered advice when he warned the Com- mittee against too great expansion. Quality in hospital work, said His Excellency, was always preferable to quantity. There was sound common sense in the remarks of the Governor, for it will be
sadily a dmitted that the Tung Wah Hospitals do not attain the
andards of foreign hospitals. His Excellency advised the en- gement of a manager, a suggestion which commends it self. ggestions like these may seem to threaten a time-honoured at- mosphere, but efficiency is the watchword of the day, and sentiment must be sacrificed. Public service must be regarded as public service and less as a stepping stone to honour. over, efficiency must begin at the bottom. Mr. Lo, in his address, said that in 1925, $600,000 was raised for flood relief in Canton; in 1924 $580,000 was raised for similar objects in China: and in the past two years nearly $1,000.000 has been raised. China's floods are beyond Hongkong's preventing. The figures illustrate, however, the possibilities of more effective other work if floods can be obviated. Similarly, there is a good deal in the purely local work that should not be necessary. It must be remembered that if more money were spent on improvement of local housing conditions and teaching of hygiene, less money would be required
er hospitals. Charity is uneconomic.
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