Hospital Authority welcomes 2021-22 Budget
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The Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, welcomed the 2021-22 Budget announced by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (February 24) at the Legislative Council, which would increase the annual subvention for the HA from $78.7 billion (including $77 billion recurrent) in 2020-21 to $82.4 billion (including $80.7 billion recurrent) in 2021-22, a 4.7 per cent growth compared to the 2020-21 revised provision.
Mr Fan expressed gratitude to the Government's commitment to sustain the development of public healthcare with the increased financial provision to the HA, despite facing the pressure of budget deficit.
"Under the current epidemic, the HA will utilise the resources to further enhance public hospitals' capability in managing infectious diseases," Mr Fan said.
"The HA will increase laboratory capacity and manpower of technical staff so as to enhance pathological support to clinical services."
Mr Fan added that the HA will retain staff and attract new recruits to work in public hospitals, including continuing to enhance career development and prospects for doctors; strengthening nursing roles by improving clinical supervision and promotion prospects, attracting new recruits and providing opportunities for career progression to support new projects and initiatives. As well, Hong Kong Children's Hospital and Tin Shui Wai Hospital will continue to commission services in phases.
"The HA will continue to promote the development of smart hospitals by enhancing various information technology systems to streamline workflow and enhance efficiency, to modernise public hospitals and promote sustainability so as to cope with the increasing service demand."
The HA Chief Executive, Dr Tony Ko, also expressed appreciation to the Government for its resources support in improving the working environment and patient services of the HA.
"The HA will continue to launch services, including the addition of 300 beds, and enhance services in general outpatient clinics and specialist outpatient clinics to meet the growing service demand," Dr Ko said.
Dr Ko added, "We will further increase operating theatre, diagnostic radiology, endoscopic sessions and pharmacy services to meet with the increasing service demand."
In chronic disease management, the HA will provide additional dialysis places for end-stage renal patients and improve glaucoma examination services. For life-threatening diseases, the HA will enhance percutaneous coronary intervention and vascular surgical services, and further enhance support to cancer patients by strengthening inpatient and consultation services, radiotherapy and chemotherapy services, and expanding the cancer case manager programme to provide a patient-centred coordinated care service.
"We will widen the coverage of the HA Drug Formulary, enhance genetic and genomic services and inborn errors of metabolism screening. We will also strengthen mental health inpatient and outreach services to enhance support to children and adolescents as well as psychogeriatric patients," said Dr Ko.
Mr Fan and Dr Ko were thankful for the support of the Government to the public healthcare service. The HA will ensure the prudent deployment of the funding to implement the initiatives for the benefit of patients.
Ends/Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:16
Issued at HKT 16:16
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