The Director of the Health Bureau, Koi Kuok Ieng, announced Tuesday the findings from a study dealing with Macau's healthcare system. A soon-to-be-established Healthcare Reform Committee will follow up on the feasibility of suggestions stated in the study.

The study, prepared by RML & Associates, an international consulting firm, highlighted 215 suggestions to improve and reform Macau's healthcare system. The study also presented a series of reviews and projections on the development of Macau's healthcare system, as well as recommendations for reform and a summary of public opinions.

Mr. Koi said that the application of a "user pays" principle was thoroughly analyzed in the study. This principle may not be applicable to all users of the public healthcare system, yet a reasonable application of the principle may help to minimize misuse of the healthcare services, thus reducing the growth of public healthcare expenditure.

The study also provided suggestions on the organization of the Health Bureau, the development of Chinese medical practices in Macau, management recommendations for finance and medicine, and other related issues.