XN000022-1977-12-01 — Page 8

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1977

GOVERNMENT DOCTORS HAVE AMPLE CHANCES

FOR PROMOTION AND ADVANCEMENT

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WITH THE GRADUAL EXPANSION OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DOCTORS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE WILL HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROMOTION AND ADVANCEMENT PROVIDED THEY DO NOT SUCCUMB TO THE LURE OF PRIVATE PRACTICE.+

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES (MEDICAL), DR. S.F. LAM, SAID THIS TODAY IN A TALK TO THE LIONS CLUB OF CASTLE PEAK.

SPEAKING ON THE PROBLEMS CONFRONTING THE DEPARTMENT, DR. LAM POINTED OUT THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE RENUMERATION THAT IS PAID TO DOCTORS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND WHAT SOME OF THE IR COUNTERPARTS COULD EARN IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

+THIS DISCREPANCY WHICH APPEARS TO BE WIDENING IS CAUSING US SOME CONCERN,+ HE SAID.

IN HIS PERSONAL OPINION, HE SAID, THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CAUSES WHY DOCTORS LEAVE THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE.

+HOW TO BRIDGE THIS GAP AND NOT UPSET THE WHOLE SALARY STRUCTURE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IS AN INTRIGUING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS THE GENUS OF A MILTON FRIEDMAN PLUS THE GUILE OF A WILBER SMITH, HE SAID.

+BE THAT AS IT MAY, WE ARE LOOKING INTO WAYS AND MEANS OF BRIDGING THIS GAP AND WE HOPE TO COME UP WITH SOME WORKABLE SOLUTION,+ HE ADDED.

ON THE QUESTION OF ALLOCATION OF FUNDS, DR. LAM SAID ALL SERVICE UNITS WOULD LIKE A LARGER SLICE OF THE FINANCIAL CAKE.

+WHEN THIS IS APPORTIONED THE DIFFICULTY BEGINS AS TO HOW IT SHOULD BE DIVIDED TO MEET THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF THE SERVICE, BEAR ING IN MIND THAT EACH AND EVERY DISCIPLINE CAN MAKE OUT JUST AS STRONG A CASE AS TO WHY THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN MORE,+ HE SAID.

HOWEVER, DR. LAM SAID THERE WERE CERTAIN PRINCIPLES WHICH WERE USED AS GUIDELINES.

+ THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT WE ARE A SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR FIRST AIM IS TO SEE THAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE CATERED FOR THE URGENCY IS DETERMINED BY THE IMPORTANCE TO LIFE AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFLICTED BY THE AILMENT,+

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/FOR EXAMPLE,