********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
In response to the release of the Consultation Document on Healthcare Reform by the Government today (March 13), the Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Mr Anthony Wu, gave the following statement:
We welcome the publication of the Consultation Document entitled ˇ§Your Health Your Lifeˇ¨. This is a very good consultation document with options taking care of the healthcare needs of the lower-income group as well as providing more choices for the middle-class.
The consultation document offers a number of supplementary financing options for the public to consider in addressing the long term needs of our community as well as the problems currently faced by our healthcare system. The Hospital Authority will participate actively in the public consultation and also facilitate staff and community discussions in the development of a sustainable and dependable healthcare system which allows more choices and flexibility for the public.
We will study and discuss the various options presented in the Consultation Document at our board meeting and also with frontline staff before deliberating a consolidated response for submission to the Government.
The local healthcare system is encountering challenges arising from an ageing population, technological advances and escalating public demand and expectations. The Hospital Authority agrees with the evaluation made in the document that the current public healthcare system will not be sustainable in the long run and reform is urgently needed in order to build up a better and more balanced healthcare system for the current and future generations in Hong Kong.
The authority also welcomes the Government's continuous commitment of adequate public funding to support the present healthcare system. The public is reassured that public resources will continue to be used efficiently and effectively by the Hospital Authority to deliver quality public healthcare for the people of Hong Kong.
Ends/Thursday, March 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:59
NNNN
