CB(2) 388/98-99(02)

LegCo Panel on Health Services

List of issues to be considered

1. Review on health care financing

The Administration has appointed a consultant to conduct a comprehensive review on local health care financing. The review which includes health care systems operating in other countries is expected to be completed by the end of 1998. At the request of the Panel, the Administration has provided a progress report of the consultancy study for members' reference (LC Paper No. CB(2) 251/98-99(01) issued on 11 September 1998).

2. Elderly Health Centres (EHCs)

To enhance primary health care to elderly people living in the community, the Chief Executive announced in his Policy Address on 8 October 1997 the establishment of 12 EHCs (including the existing seven EHCs) in 1998-99 and six in 1999-2000. These 18 EHCs will provide primary integrated health services to the elderly in conjunction with other elderly welfare and health care services providers to enhance the elderly's knowledge of healthy lifestyle and self-care.

Members may wish to follow up on the progress of implementation.

3. Utilization of the Clinical Pathology Laboratory Centre (CPLC) of the Department of Health after the setting up of a Laboratory Automation System (LAS)

In approving the Director of Health's proposal of setting up a LAS to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the CPLC, the Finance Committee at its meeting on 9 October 1997 requested the Administration to explore the feasibility of allowing the private health care sector to make use of the spare capacity of the system to offset costs.

4. Visiting health teams for the elderly

At the meeting held on 14 July 1998, Mr LAW Chi-kwong proposed to discuss the visiting health teams for the elderly which the Administration had pledged to set up in 1998-99 in the 1997 Policy Address.

Legislative Council Secretariat
8 October 1998