11 October 1997

Visionary Policy Address to face Health Care problems

(Keywords:- Policy Address, health policy review, Disease Control Centre, primary health care)

          After some two hours on his maiden Policy Address and two days' intense "grilling" by members of the legislature and the public, few would doubt the sincerity of the Chief Executive. Mr Tung Chee-hwa has revealed that he is "human", markedly contrasting with some of his former colonial contemporaries whose flair has been that of "diplomatic" if not "political". Perhaps this is a very much needed breath of fresh air for Hong Kong people after years of political bickering.

          Few, too, would deny that the Address itself is visionary, forward looking and perhaps bold, spurring people to leap forward, not only as master of our own house but taking on board the ownership of being part of a great Chinese nation. Hong Kong is no more a "borrowed time, a borrowed place". Instead, it is "our permanent home, a place in perpetuity".

          To the health care professions and those concerned with health care, there was an extra bonus -- a promise of an overall health care system review, something seriously wanting for almost a quarter of a century, as the last health care policy paper was published in 1974.

          Amongst the remit of the review would be a look into health care funding, in particular "how patients and the community can best share our health care costs". Hopefully, it is a sign of Government acknowledging that whilst it should assure nobody being denied of proper health care due to lack of means, the uncurbed next to total subvention for all public medical service users irrespective of financial status will not go a long way. It simply cannot work to have a limited health care budget, irrespective of size, to cope with insatiable unlimited needs and demand.

          Let us hope that this signifies Government's political determination to move into realising the principle of "those who can pay, pay"; and "those who can pay more, pay more". Through such a policy, those affordable could be channelled back to the private sector. At the same time, those who genuinely need heavily subsidized public health care can have a much reduced waiting time, and public hospitals can have decreased workload, concentrating therefore on quality services.

          It is also most welcomed that the Policy Address heavily back the development of primary health care, in particular disease prevention and control. Yet, further step should be taken to establish a "disease control centre" in Hong Kong -- something which most advanced countries cannot do without. Through such a centre, epidemiology of various diseases, data collection, health promotion and disease prevention can be carried out in a more coordinated way under one roof. The fact that a new strain of influenza virus H5N1 was isolated with such speed indicated that Hong Kong has the people and the brain. They should be further nurtured through this "hardware" to attain international excellency.

          Regrettably, the Policy Address does give rise to disappointment in certain aspects. Amongst others, in constitutional development, Mr Tung has indicated a lack of boldness and vision. Many would argue that the pace of democracy, ultimately leading to universal suffrage for the whole legislature and the Chief Executive, has been well outlined in the Basic Law. Yet, the Basic Law was drafted in the mid-eighties and promulgated in 1990, some seven years ago. Since then, much has changed in the maturity and understanding of politics in Hong Kong. Much has also changed in the political development of the central Chinese government.

          If the concept of Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong is anything to go by, if the promise that Hong Kong people can be the master of their own destiny is to be realised, then it is up to the Hong Kong government to sound out the populace on the way ahead, and to seek changes of the Basic Law to put the people's wishes into practice.

          We look forward to implementation of all the promises pledged in this Address. We look forward to an even bolder second Policy Address!

(Hongkong Standard)