Consultation meetings on proposed health reform to be held this month

Three consultation meetings on the proposed improvements in health care are to be organised with the public this month, the government said.

In a statement, the Health Ministry denied reports that it intended to introduce payment for health services.

It said the government was improving primary care by strengthening the role of the family doctor and giving patients more services and access to services in the community.

The aim of the improvements was that patients, through the family doctor, would have access to their medical records, enabling them to receive a more personalised service.

A family doctor would be able to refer patients to the outpatients department and change the medicine they received free of charge, the ministry said.