Newsletter No. 7

 To All Members  

I.  Rebate of Fees for medicines, consultation and related medical equipment/services

1.     We previously reported that the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) had conducted a review on the rebate system for expenses incurred by civil servants and retirees etc in the acquirement of medicines, equipment or services in the event public hospitals or clinics operating under the auspices of the Hospital Authority (HA) are unable to provide such medicines, equipment or medical services prescribed by duty medical officers.  On 22 September, HKFISSA received a letter from S for CS to inform us of the latest development.

2.     The letter stated that the staff side of the Standing Committee on Medical and Dental Facilities for Civil Servants had been consulted in respect of CSB’s preliminary proposals.  Having considered the staff feedback on the proposals, CSB have revised certain reimbursement arrangements and would brief the staff side at the next meeting of the said forum.

3.     Copies of CSB’s letter and Annexes (10 pages in all) are uploaded on the “Newsletters” webpage of the HKFISSA Website.  If members require paper copies, please let us know by post or by fax.

4.     Though CSB has reiterated that the revised arrangements are not intended for saving costs, but for improving the administrative arrangements for medical reimbursement and rationalizing the reimbursement arrangements so as to maximize the available funding, the fact remains that there are exemplary complaints as follows :

(a)         free medicines provided in the past are not provided now and patients have to buy them from outside the hospital;

(b)         if a doctor replaces a certain medicine (which was provided free of charge in the past) with another (though not requested by the patient), the patient has to buy it from outside the hospital;

(c)         medicines which patients bought from outside the hospital and secured subsequent reimbursement in the past are not eligible for reimbursement now if they are not specified as ‘essential’ by doctors;

(d)         medicines for minimizing side effects are not classified as ‘essential’ now and patients have to buy them from outside and not eligible for reimbursement.

 5.     The above examples raise queries that the Government, as an employer, should provide the best care and treatment free of charge to serving or retired staff (and their families) who suffer from ill health irrespective of the seriousness.

 6.     HKFISSA will continue to dispatch a representative to attend the next Quarterly Seminar chaired by the Hong Kong Retired Civil Servants Welfare Association in November 2005.  Our aim is to lodge collective views on the subject matter to CSB in an attempt to pressing the Government to fully assume its contractual and moral obligation as well as to minimize the patients’ inconvenience.

 7.     Members who have complaints or wish to express views please write to us by the end of October 2005.

II.  Volunteer Service for the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference (HKMC) of World Trade Organization (WTO)

 8.     The 6th Ministerial Conference or the HKMC of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be held from 13 to 18 December 2005 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).  Some 11,000 participants are anticipated for the Conference.  The Secretary for Commerce, Trade and Technology will chair the meetings.  Information on the HKMC can be found at http://www.wtomc6.gov.hk .

 9.     On 28 September 2005, HKFISSA received a letter from the Agency for Volunteer Service (AVS) which sought to recruit volunteers for the Conference.  The volunteers will primarily be needed to give support to the Liaison Officers of the Conference in receiving the participants from all over the world.  The volunteers will work at the Hong Kong International Airport or the HKCEC.  They will receive training, working manuals and uniform.  As regards service time, there will be 2 working sessions per day with 4 hours per session.  It is expected that each volunteer will be able to commit to at least 4 sessions or 2 full days of service during the period from 10 to 19 December 2005.

10.    HKFISSA would like to appeal to our members to offer a hand to this meaningful event.  Apart from enjoying the wonderful experience, participating volunteers will be able to prove to themselves that they are still energetic and contributive.

11.    The volunteer recruitment details and application form can be accessed at http://www.avs.org.hk.  Completed forms can be submitted on or before 20 October 2005 via email: [email protected]; or Fax: (852) 2527 3362; or by mail: Volunteers Training and Development Centre, 2/F, China Merchants Commercial Building, 15 -16 Connaught Road West, Hong Kong.  Enquiries can be made to Ms Annie Chow at (852) 2865 2520.

III.  Correspondence List

12.    We are consolidating the information collected from the questionnaires returned by members.  Upon completion, the Correspondence List will be printed and distributed.

IV.  HKFISSA Activities

Monthly Activities

13.    HKFISSA has scheduled a leisurely visit to Ngong Ping, the Buddha Statue and Po Lin Monastery in Lantau on 12 October 2005.  For details, please refer to Item No. 7 on the “Activity” webpage of this website.

14.    The November outing will be a visit to the Shing Mun Reservoir on 9 November 2005.  For details, please refer to Item No. 8 on the “Activity” webpage of this website.

Badminton and Luncheon

 15.    Badminton courts for practicing will continue to be reserved for the use of HKFISSA members at the Disciplined Services Sports and Recreation Club at Causeway Bay.  These are available on all Tuesdays (from 10 am to noon) and Fridays (from 11 am to 1 pm).  The charge is $20 per person per playing session.  Members who are interested may contact our secretary Mr Wong Shiu-pui John on (852) 9196 8303.  Lunch is also served at the Chinese restaurant at the above Club premises (at 12:30 pm on Tuesdays) for members who wish to socialize with their friends and ex-colleagues.

 Rendezvous at the Officers Mess

 16.    The Rendezvous to recall the good old days in the disciplined service will be held on a regular basis at the Officers Mess, 20/F, Immigration Headquarters on the last Thursday of each month (from 6 pm to 11 pm) starting on 25 August 2005.  Dinner gathering will also be held at the restaurant on the same floor.  It is a casual gathering for ex-colleagues.  Buy yourself a drink, have a chat, sing along and spend a joyful evening.  Just drop-in, no prior reservation or notice is necessary.

V.  Concession Offered by Retail Outlets

 17.    Details of retail outlets (Ching Mei / Janfield Records Company, Happy Sound Music Limited, Wines Unlimited, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwong, Mountain Services International Limited and Hang Heung’s Kitchen etc) which provide privileges or discounts to members are in the HKFISSA website for members’ viewing.

18.    HKFISSA continues to contact various retail outlets for getting better benefits.  Members may contact any Executive Committee member of HKFISSA to put forth their views and suggestions.

 19.    Members who wish to make enquiries or comments may contact us by :

l       mailing to P O Box 25823, Harbour Building Post Office, Central, Hong Kong;

l       faxing to (852) 2367 1671;

l       emailing to [email protected]; or

l       visiting our Website at http://hk.geocities.com/fissaimm/.

Patrick Pang Kue-chuen

President

HKFISSA

October 2005