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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, today (March 13) issued the following statement with regard to the launch of the public consultation on healthcare reform by the Food and Health Bureau:
"Healthcare reform is vital for the future of all of us, our next generations and the development of Hong Kong. The Special Administrative Region Government is working concertedly and earnestly to bring forth a better health care system for our citizens. I wholeheartedly hope that we can reach a consensus on how we can reform our healthcare system and lay a solid foundation for its development within my term of office.
Hong Kong's health indicators rank among the best in the world but we are facing the challenge of an ageing population and rising healthcare costs, we have to reform the healthcare system to maintain quality services. In doing so, we must also resolve the problem of resources.
In my Policy Address last year, I honoured my election pledge to increase the public spending on medical and health services from 15% to 17% of the overall recurrent government expenditure by 2011-12, an increase of about $10 billion. The Financial Secretary also pledged in his recent Budget Speech to draw $50 billion from the fiscal reserve to help implement future healthcare reform. These are reflective of the Government's ever-increasing commitment to healthcare services and our determination to work with the community for reforms.
This healthcare reform consultation document is a comprehensive package of proposals put forward by the Government to address the issue of healthcare financing. I hope all the political parties in the Legislative Council, the various sectors of the society, community leaders at the district level and the general public can read it in detail and analyse the pros and cons of the various reform and supplementary financing options in a rational and practical manner. Please tell us your views. This will be a major step for us in mapping out the overall development of our healthcare system."
The first stage of public consultation on healthcare reform will last for three months until June 13. Relevant information can be downloaded from the Healthcare Reform website: www.beStrong.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, March 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:45
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