Press Releases
Appointments to Health and Medical Development Advisory Committee
The Government today (March 1) announced the appointment of 12 unofficial
members to the reconstituted Health and Medical Development Advisory Committee (HMDAC).
The 12 members are: Mr Ronald Arculli, Mr Chan Kin-por, Dr Margaret Chung Wai-ling,
Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling, Dr David Fang, Professor Dennis Lam Shun-chiu, Dr
Jacqueline Lui Chiu-tong, Dr Louis Shih Tai-cho, Professor Grace Tang Wai-king,
Professor Thomas Wong Kwok-shing, Mr Anthony Wu Ting-yuk and Dr Loretta Yam Yin-chun.
The appointments took effect today for a term of two years.
The HMDAC, chaired by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow,
is tasked to review and develop the service model for health care in both the
public and private sector; and propose long-term health care financing options.
Dr Chow was pleased with the appointment of prominent personalities from various
sectors of the community, including public and private health care,
rehabilitation, academic, insurance, legal and commercial.
"Our existing health care system is facing the challenges of an ageing
population, escalating health care costs and rising community aspirations. We
look forward to members' contribution in assisting us identify solutions to
various issues," he said.
Dr Chow noted there had been a lot of community interest on health care service
model and health care financing and it would be necessary for the deliberations
of the HMDAC to be made as transparent as possible so people could voice their
views on these two extremely important subjects in shaping Hong Kong's future
health care policies.
"In this respect, the advisory committee's discussion papers would be uploaded
to our website as soon as practicable.
"To canvass the views of different sectors in the community, the HMDAC will, in
the second half of the year, outreach to meet representatives from different
sectors including members of the Legislative Council's Health Services Panel,
professionals, interest groups, academics, community/district groups as well as
local media," he said.
Dr Chow pointed out various reviews had been conducted since 1993, in particular
in relation to developing health care financing models.
"While many local and overseas health care financing experts pointed out that
our health care system will be financially unsustainable over the long run
unless a reform is pursued, there has not been any community consensus on the
options to tackle the matter.
"On service provision, there has been much talk of an imbalance between the
public and private sectors and the need for repositioning of public health care
services.
"Beyond the health care sector, concerns have been raised about the inadequate
interfacing between the delivery of health care and welfare services," he said.
The Chief Executive announced in the 2005 Policy Address that the Health and
Medical Development Advisory Committee would be reconstituted to facilitate the
tendering of advice to the Government on the long-term health care policies and
financial viability.
Other heads of government department and experts in relevant fields will be
co-opted to the committee on a need basis.
Ends/Tuesday, March 1, 2005
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