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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a public function today (May 30):
Reporter: Patients' groups are saying that without packaged charging, the Health Protection Scheme would completely be unattractive. Why aren't you introducing this in the short term?
Secretary for Food and Health: The concerns from the patients' groups are understandable. But I hope the public would understand that the provision of packaged service charges is always a direction and we would not give up promoting the use of packaged service charges at all private hospitals. Insurance is not the only means by which we can promote the use of packaged service charges. Even ahead of that, I have been discussing with the Hong Kong Private Hospitals Association to promote and encourage them to adopt more packaged service charges so as to enhance the transparency and predictability of the hospital charges for the patients.
Reporter: Why aren't we having this packaged charging system right now?
Secretary for Food and Health: There would always be a process for us to promote and enhance the use of packaged service charges. As I said, I have already started discussions with the private hospitals to promote and encourage them to adopt more packaged service charges for patients.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, May 30, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:02
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