The photograph that accompanied the article, 'Elderly hit out as hospital fees rise' (South China Morning Post, July 25), showed a group of elderly people protesting to me against the 11.7 per cent increase in public hospital charges. This was a foreseeable consequence of the manner in which the Hospital Authority allocated its resources. Those most in need are deprived of what they require. The Government claimed to have established a fair charging system in which the wealthiest receive the same amount of public subsidy as the poorest. Though this may be 'equal', it is neither 'equitable' nor 'fair' when the poor are deprived of the free service they enjoyed before. The Private Hospital Group forwarded proposals urging the Government to allocate higher priority to those in real need and those with life-threatening conditions. This should guarantee that the poor have access to prompt medical treatment. There are ways of achieving this without means testing. The proposals were distorted by patients' rights groups as demanding, means-testing and as excluding the rich. This is completely unfounded. If the Government and the Hospital Authority do not face reality and accord appropriate priority in health care to the poor, further protests will ensue. Dr LAM KUI-CHUN Central
