ENG-2011 — Page 206

166 Health

justified causes under the HPS, making use of the $50 billion set aside from the fiscal reserve in support of healthcare reform.

The second stage public consultation revealed broad-based community support for the Government's healthcare reform direction: a strengthened public healthcare system as the core, complemented by a competitive and vibrant private healthcare sector. Many considered the proposed HPS a positive step forward to enhance the long term sustainability of Hong Kong's healthcare system. They concurred that the proposed HPS could help enhance transparency, competition and efficiency of the private healthcare sector. They supported the introduction of the proposed HPS to provide value-for-money choices to the community, and indirectly provide relief to the public system by better enabling it to focus on serving its target areas.

Some respondents, while supporting strengthened regulation of the private healthcare sector, expressed concerns about the adequacy of supply of healthcare manpower and capacity of private hospitals and healthcare services. They point out that there is a need for the Government to formulate a healthcare manpower strategy to ensure that there would be an adequate supply

an adequate supply of healthcare professionals to meet future demands and support the development of the public. and private healthcare sectors, and to develop the necessary infrastructure for facilitating the development of healthcare services.

Based on the outcome of the second stage public consultation on healthcare reform, the FHB is adopting a three-pronged approach to take forward the following reform initiatives:

• Formulate supervisory framework for the proposed HPS: The FHB will set up a working group on the HPS under the HMDAC to formulate proposals for the HPS, including supervisory and institutional frameworks, implementation arrangements, and the provision of public subsidy making use of the $50 billion fiscal reserve earmarked to support healthcare reform;

• Review healthcare manpower strategy: the FHB will set up a high-level steering committee to conduct a strategic review on healthcare manpower planning and professional development. The steering committee will formulate recommendations on how to cope with anticipated demand for healthcare manpower, strengthen professional training, and facilitate professional manpower and development having regard to the findings of the review; and

• Facilitate healthcare service development: the FHB will seek to facilitate the development of the healthcare services industry. This includes developing essential infrastructure, notably the disposal of land for private hospital development, enhancing the transparency of healthcare services and promoting packaged services for common procedures in the private sector.

The FHB expects to complete these three tasks by the first half of 2013, and then proceed with the necessary legislative process.