***********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council Panel on Health Services began its duty visit to Tokyo, Japan yesterday (September 6) to gain a better insight into the country's healthcare financing. On its first day of visit to Tokyo, the delegation met with officials of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to obtain first-hand information on the country's healthcare financing arrangements and the implementation of measures for lifestyle related diseases.
The delegation also visited the Health Insurance Claims Review and Reimbursement Services to learn about the country's experience in operating the Social Health Insurance Scheme and the Tokyo Hospital to learn the operation of public hospitals in Japan.
The delegation will visit the Sanno Hospital to learn about the operation of a private hospital in Japan and two nursing homes to study the operation and experience of these homes in providing care to the elderly and the mentally handicapped today (September 7).
The delegation is led by Dr Hon Joseph Lee Kok-long, Chairman of the Panel on Health Services. Other Members include Dr Hon Leung Ka-lau, Hon Fred Li Wah-ming and Hon Chan Hak-kan (Panel members), and Hon Chan Kam-lam, Hon Wong Yung-kan, Hon Lau Kong-wah, Hon Tam Yiu-chung and Hon Li Fung-ying (non-Panel Members).
Ends/Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:56
NNNN