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Wednesday, April 7, 1976
EMPLOYMENT OF PART-TIME PRIVATE DOCTORS
NO SOLUTION TO GOVERNMENT STAFFING PROBLEM
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DR.
CHCA
The Director of Medical and Health Services, Dr. the Hon. Gerald
Choa, has refuted claims that lack of opportunity for training and research
is one of the reasons for doctors leaving government service.
Speaking at the resumed Budget Debate in the Legislative Council
this afternoon, he said that in a large department such as the Hedical and
Health Department it must be expected that there would be at any time some
medical officers leaving for a variety of reasons and others coming; to
the service.
The resignation rate fluctuates from time to time over the years.
Since January this year, 83 medical officers of all grades have given
notice that they will be leaving the service, of which 18 are proceeding
on normal retirement, 14 on completion of agreement, 23 are enigrating, 12
are going into private practice, five are taking up other employment and
eleven for no stated reason.
The Director emphasised that these departures took effect over a
period of a few months.
Furthermore, during this period 38 doctors have been recruited and
by the end of June this year, 118 interns will have finished their intern-
ship. If past experience is any indication, at least between 70 to 80
per cent of these interna can be expected to join government service.
Dr. Chon pointed out of the 83 doctors who had left or vera leaving,
only ten were either consultants or senior officers with higher qualifications,
"There is no ....
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