Transcript of remarks of SFH at media session
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Reporter: You have mentioned in the programme that you expect this year the situation of the flu season will be similar to the previous year. So how to deal with the shortage in manpower and also the occupation of beds in public hospitals ?
Secretary for Food and Health: Because of the ageing population and also the pressure of the increasing number of chronic diseases, the demand of medical and health services in the community has been increasing all along. So, even without the flu surge season, the demand has been actually increasing. Therefore, while we have provided additional funding for the Hospital Authority to rectify its current situation by hiring more part-time healthcare professionals, providing more special honourarium to nurses, and also hiring more clerical support for the nurses, I think these are just short term measures. Of course this will ease the situation right now. Although the Hospital Authority has plans in dealing with the winter surge situation, some additional funding would help.
On the other hand, it is also important for the Hospital Authority to provide long and medium term plans, so that in future, the services of the Hospital Authority can be better delivered. In the recent Policy Address, we have already announced that a three-year-cycle of funding will be provided to the Hospital Authority, so that they can better plan the increasing services, both in terms of manpower as well as other services within the Hospital Authority.
Lastly, we have also reserved resources for public-private (partnership) programmes, so that the Hospital Authority can ease their pressure, especially in those having long waiting time. In purchasing private services, the quality of services can be better maintained.
Reporter: The $500 million is only for short and mid-term, so for longer term, what the exact policy will be?
Secretary for Food and Health: For the longer term, there are hardware and software aspects. For the hardware, we have already reserved resources for the 10-year Hospital Development Plan. The Hospital Authority is also actively looking into the redevelopment of hospitals in the coming future. In terms of software, I have already requested the Hospital Authority to provide the Food and Health Bureau with a report highlighting the nursing manpower situation, the current nursing manpower shortage situation and also the plan on how to rectify the existing shortfall. It is important for the Hospital Authority to plan the manpower of other healthcare professionals as well. With the three-year-cycle funding, the Hospital Authority can have better resource to fund hardware and software; and the services can be better provided.
Reporter: Need to take how many years to solve the problem of manpower shortage and also the high occupation rate of beds in public hospitals?
Secretary for Food and Health: It would take different number of years to rectify the shortfall in different healthcare professionals. The Hospital Authority has yet to give me a report on the situation. I am sure that after they have provided the report, we can better visualise the situation. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, February 3, 2018
Issued at HKT 13:26
Issued at HKT 13:26
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