Tung nailed his colours to mast of reform
Tung Chee-hwa announced a comprehensive review of the health-care system in his first Policy Address in October 1997.
Challenges posed by a growing and ageing population with increasing aspirations for high-quality care could have forced health spending to rise, he said, saying the review would address cost-sharing between the public and private purse and reorganising the sector's workload.
A month later, the Health and Welfare Bureau commissioned a team of economists, physicians, epidemiologists and public health specialists from Harvard University to assess the current system and propose options for future financing and delivery of care.
The 15-member team, headed by Professor William Hsiao and Professor Winnie Yip Chi-man, looked at issues from the patient's perspective, aiming to answer five main questions: what were the current system's strengths and weaknesses; could the current financing arrangement be sustained; what were the causes of any weaknesses; what were the strategic options for improving the system, and what institutions needed to be put in place if a particular option was chosen.
The researchers used information already available in Hong Kong and internationally and conducted surveys of residents, doctors and patients.
A steering committee of government officials and medical, business and academic leaders met regularly to offer guidance and advice on issues confronting the health-care system and possible remedies.
The Harvard team also interviewed more than 200 people including representatives from major employers, insurers, medical practices and patients' rights groups during its study.
Although it had been hoped the whole report could be completed before the end of last year, a draft report was only submitted in early December and the final document introduced to the Legislative Council yesterday.
