WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986
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BETTER FACILITIES FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH NEEDED
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THERE SHOULD BE IMPROVEMENTS IN FACILITIES FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND ASSISTANCE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO RETAIN THE SERVICE OF DOCTORS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE HON LEE YU-TA! SAID AT THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE REPORT ON THE DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE POINTED OUT THAT MEDICAL SERVICE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR WAS UNDER THE PRESSURE OF AN EXCESSIVE WORKLOAD WHICH WAS AGGRAVATED BY THE SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS RESULTING FROM UNFILLED VACANCIES AND STAFF TURNOVER IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS.
MR LEE SAID HE WAS IN FAVOUR OF IMPROVING FRINGE BENEFITS OF THE SUBVENTED SECTOR TO ACHIEVE PARITY WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE BUT WARNED THAT EVEN IF PAY AND BENEFITS WERE IMPROVED, DOCTORS WOULD STILL BE TEMPTED TO GO INTO LUCRATIVE PRIVATE PRACTICE.
+ THE ONLY ADVANTAGE WHICH THE PUBLIC SECTOR CAN OFFER IS INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT,+ HE SAID.
HE THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR MUST IMPROVE FACILITIES FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH, REDUCE WORKLOAD AND GIVE ASSISTANCE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION OF HIGHER QUALIFICATIONS IN ORDER TO RETAIN DOCTORS IN THE SERVICE.
REFERRING TO THE PROBLEM OF OVERCROWDING AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS, MR LEE SAID THE PUBLIC MUST BE EDUCATED NOT TO ABUSE MEDICAL SERVICES AND NEW BUILDING PROJECTS SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED WITH FULL SPEED.
HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF USING ALTERNATIVE TRADITIONAL CHINESE TREATMENTS SUCH AS HERBALISM, BONE-SETTING AND ACUPUNCTURE, OFFERED BY TRADITIONAL CHINESE ORGANISATIONS, SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO WITH A VIEW TO INTEGRATING THESE INTO THE MEDICAL SERVICE SYSTEM.
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