WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1977
17
CALL FOR BETTER INCENTIVES FOR GOVT. DOCTORS
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DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG TODAY URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPLORE WAYS OF ATTRACTING AND KEEPING EXPERIENCED DOCTORS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE BY OFFERING BETTER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREER PROSPECTS IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1977 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR. FANG SAID HE WAS CONVINCED THAT INADEQUATE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES COUPLED WITH POOR CAREER PROSPECTS LIE AT THE ROOT OF MANY RESIGNATIONS IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
HE PUT FORWARD SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS TO OVERCOME THE SHORTAGE OF EXPERIENCED DOCTORS IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE IN ORDER TO FULFIL THE PLAN FOR REGIONAL ISING MEDICAL SERVICES,
DR. FANG SAID: THERE MUST BE MANY QUALIFIED DOCTORS WHO DO NOT WISH TO MAKE A CAREER IN THE CIVIL SERVICE BUT WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE ON CONTRACT FOR, SAY, FIVE TO TEN YEARS. THE SAME TERMS, HE SAID, COULD BE OFFERED TO DOCTORS WHO HAVE RETIRED FROM GOVERNMENT SERVICE BUT WHO WISH TO BE RE-EMPLOYED WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE THEIR PENSION FROZEN AS AT PRESENT.
AS TO THE ADEQUACY OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, DR. FANG SAID: IF ALL DOCTORS ON THE PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT WERE TO BE OFFERED PAID STUDY LEAVE OVERSEAS AFTER, SAY, THREE YEARS OF SERVICE, IT WOULD BE A REAL INCENTIVE FOR LOCAL DOCTORS TO JOIN AND REMAIN IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.+
HE SAID AT PRESENT OFFICERS IN THE MAJOR SPECIALTIES FOR EXAMPLE, MEDICINE AND SURGERY, WERE REQUIRED TO SHOULDER THEIR OWN EXPENSES FOR OVERSEAS TRAINING AND WERE ONLY REFUNDED WHEN THEY PASSED THEIR EXAMINATIONS.
+THIS IS A VERY SHORT-SIGHTED POLICY AND DOES NOT HELP TO PROMOTE THEIR SENSE OF LOYALTY, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH EXAMINATIONS WERE NOW HELD LOCALLY FOR A NUMBER OF POST-GRADUATE QUALIFICATIONS, THIS COULD NOT REPLACE OVERSEAS TRAINING, THE AIM OF WHICH WAS TO BROADEN THE DOCTOR'S HORIZON AND TO ENABLE HIM TO KEEP ABREAST WITH MODERN TRENDS.
+ALL BRANCHES OF MEDICINE ARE LIVING SCIENCES AND THEY NEED REGULAR NURTURING IF OUR STANDARD OF HEALTH CARE IS TO MOVE AHEAD, HE SAID.
DR. FANG FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT THOSE DOCTORS WHO HAVE OBTAINED POST-GRADUATE QUALIFICATIONS, EITHER LOCALLY OR OVERSEAS, SHOULD PROCEED AUTOMATICALLY TO THE RANK OF SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER. HE THOUGHT THE DOCTOR'S SITUATION WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CALL FOR EXCEPTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS, AS WERE DONE WITH THE ICAC, IN THE MATTER OF GOVERNMENT SALARY SCALES AND GRADINGS.
/ON GOVERNMENT'S