Date: 26 November 2009
Dr. TAM Cheuk Yin, President
Dr. Maureen ML WONG President, Hong Kong Thoracic Society American College of Chest Physicians (HK & Macau Chapter)
We, on behalf of the two local respiratory societies (Hong Kong Thoracic Society and American College of Chest Physician, Hong Kong & Macau Chapter), appeal to you in support of our colleagues in the field of Occupational Therapy, in pursuing issues of the captioned, stipulated in their letter to Commissioner for Transport (Their Ref: 001/05/RESP/HKOTA) dated 12 May 2009, with the following views:
- Patients with respiratory diseases take a heavy toll among our overall health burdens, and supplementary oxygen is a documented effective therapy to improve survival and quality of life among some respiratory cripples who may live in misery otherwise.
- It is the duty of any government and civilized community to facilitate measures to mitigate social inconvenience of our disabled members to achieve a normal or near-normal life.
- Relevant regulations surrounding public transport and portable oxygen use should be revisited to address such urgent needs, with a balance on public safety.
- Meanwhile government should make it a priority to enable alternative options to be more financially sustainable and easily available for our clients. That includes expansion of rehab bus service and use of more expensive battery-operated portable oxygen device.
“Back to community” – a petition not only from the disadvantaged group who aspires to lead a more independent life – but also the slogan our medical profession chant together as our core value and goal when we serve them.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. TAM Cheuk Yin, President, Hong Kong Thoracic Society
Dr. Maureen ML WONG, President, American College of Chest Physicians (HK & Macau Chapter)