( 31 ).
You have one doctor by the name of Tung in the Hospital ?-Yes.
Was he not a student of the Tung Wa Hospital ?--Yes.
Some years ago the Tung Wa Hospital taught students there ?--Yes, but there
are none now,
Why?--Because the buildings used for these students have been given up to the Pó Léung Kuk. The system of training students was dropped before the buildings were given over to the Pó Léung Kuk. I think seven students were turned out as doctors by the Tung Wa Hospital.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-What pay do the doctors receive ?--Twenty taels a month.
How do you account for so many changes taking place amongst the doctors ? Their letter of engagement is for three months only.
Do doctors make more money practising outside than they would in the Hospital ?— Sometimes they do not choose to stay, and sometimes the Directors see they are not of very great ability in curing diseases.
THE PRESIDENT-Where do they buy their medicines ?—They buy raw material from the druggists and we prepare it ourselves.
Where do they buy their pills ?--We prepare them ourselves.
Do you not know something about pills ?-No.
Have you not got a pill shop of your own ?—No, I have nothing to do with any pill shop.
Dr. Ho KAI-The doctors of the Tung Wa Hospital have private practice, have they not? Yes.
Dr. Ho KAI-That disposes of the idea that the doctors make more money outside in private practice than they would in the Hospital, and that that is the cause for the constant change.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-What is the highest number of patients you have known to be in Hospital at one time ?--There have been as many as 160.
THE PRESIDENT-Have patients increased within the last year or two as compared with previous years ?-The numbers are increasing.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-I should like a statement from the clerk showing us the average number of patients in the Hospital for each month during the past four or five years, if it can be obtained.
THE PRESIDENT-Would the total number in each year for the last four or five years be sufficient, or do you want monthly returns?
Mr. WHITEHEAD-The total number in each year would be sufficient.
THE PRESIDENT-I can obtain that from the Government records. I will have
a return for five years prepared.
The Committee adjourned till Saturday, the 18th April, at 2.30 p.m.