Sessional_Paper_1926 — Page 138

134

2. After consultation with the Principal Civil Medical Officer I have come to the conclusion that there is force in the contention of the British Medical Association that private medical practitioners in this. Colony are subjected to unfair competition in that a person would ordinarily prefer to enter a hospital, such as a Government hospital, where charges for maintenance only and not for medical treatment could be made rather than a private hospital where charges both for maintenance and for medical treatment by a private medical practitioner would be made.

3. It has therefore been decided that a new scale of charges, as set out in the Enclosure 1. enclosed copy of Government Notification No. 556 of 8th October, 1926, shall be substi- tuted for the present scale of charges which is shown in the enclosed copy of Govern- Enclosure 2. ment Notification No. 820 of 24th December, 1909, as from 1st January, 1927.

4. The chief points of difference between the present and the new scales are:

(1) the charges for medical attendance at a rate of one-third of the maintenance rate in the case of 1st and 2nd class private patients: the Principal Civil Medical Officer is of opinion that this charge approximately equals the charge that private medical practitioners would make in ordinary cases;

(2) the fees charged for surgical operations and maternity cases.

5. It is considered that the Principal Civil Medical Officer should have discretionary power to waive the extra fees, in view of the fact that there is a class of person, who, whilst they can afford to pay 1st or 2nd class rates for maintenance, cannot afford to pay extra charges for medical attendance, surgical operations or maternity cases.

6. All fees with the exception of the consultants' fees will be paid into the ordinary revenue of the Colony.

7. The Government consultants referred to in the notification are the Professors of Surgery, Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Hong Kong. These professors have always been connected with the Government hospitals, though hitherto their exact status has not been clearly defined. The matter was discussed with the Vice- Chancellor who concurs in the present proposals affecting these professors.

8. The rates for maintenance at the Peak Hospital will remain the same as they are at present, namely $10 per diem for 1st class and $5 per diem for 2nd class patients. Patients at this hospital are attended at their own charges by their own doctors.

The Right Honourable

I have, etc.,

Lieutenant-Colonel L. C. M. S. AMERY, M.P.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

(Sd.)

C. CLEMENTI,

Governor, &c.,

Enclosures 1 and 2 in this despatch are appended below.