XN000022-1979-09-03 — Page 6

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1979

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RECRUITMENT OF TRAINED DISPENSERS

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) BEGAN A RECRUITMENT EXERCISE FOR TRAINED DISPENSERS TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE DISPENSING SERVICE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

THIS FOLLOWED RECENT APPROVAL BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT'S REQUESTS FOR THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL DISPENSER POSTS TO AUGMENT THE EXISTING ESTABLISHMENT OF 230 STAFF IN THE DISPENSER GRADE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT STRESSED THAT THE PRESENT RECRUITMENT EXERCISE HAD NOT COME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL STAFF ASSOCIATION THREATENING TO TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION OVER BETTER PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL DISPENSER POSTS HAD BEEN MADE SOME MONTHS AGO AND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME DURING WHICH REGULAR STAFF REVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY THE AREAS OF NEED FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF AND EXPANSION.

+ IT IS OUR POLICY TO CONSTANTLY REVIEW THE STAFF SITUATION THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT, TO IDENTIFY THE AREAS OF PRIORITY AND TO MAKE SUBMISSIONS FOR REQUESTING ADDITIONAL POSTS WHERE NECESSARY,+ HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PRESENT RECRUITMENT EXERCISE FOR DISPENSERS WOULD MEAN AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT IN THE STAFFING SITUATION IN THE DISPENSARIES OF GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

+IN THE LIGHT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, IT IS HOPED THAT THE ASSOCIATION WILL REFRAIN FROM TAKING ANY ACTION WHICH WOULD ONLY CAUSE INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC,+ HE URGED.

GOVERNOR OPENS COMMONWEALTH

CONFERENCE OF COMPANY ADMINISTRATORS

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED SECRETARIES AND ADMINISTRATORS WAS AN EVENT OF CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE AND PRAISED THE INSTITUTE FOR ENCOURAGING HIGH STANDARDS OF ADMINISTRATION.

SIR MURRAY WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE OF COMPANY ADMINISTRATORS IN THE CONVENTION CENTRE WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 400 DELEGATES.

+THE INSTITUTE REPRESENTS A HIGHLY AUTHORITATIVE BODY OF EXPERTISE, AND PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ENCOURAGING HIGH STANDARDS OF ADMINISTRATION, SIR MURRAY SAID,

/THE FOLLOWING