XN000022-1981-10-28 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1961

ANOTHER KEY PROBLEM FACING THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH FIELD IN HONG KONG IS NOT ONE OF OVERALL SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS BUT OF AN UNBALANCED USE OF THE EXISTING RESOURCES.

QUOTING STATISTICS, HE SAID ABOUT 50 PER CENT OF SOME 3 200 DOCTORS WHO ARE AT PRESENT WORKING IN HONG KONG ARE IN THE GOVERNMENT AND ASSISTED SERVICES WHILE THE REMAINDER WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

HOWEVER, OUT OF A TOTAL OF 20 800 BEDS, 85 PER CENT ARE IN THE GOVERNMENT AND ASSISTED HOSPITALS.

+THE WORKLOAD IS THEREFORE VERY UNEVENLY SPREAD, + HE SAID.

+THE PRESENT HIGH WASTAGE RATE OF TRAINED STAFF FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, WHICH IS IN THE REGION OF OVER 12 PER CENT, IS A CAUSE FOR SOME CONCERN AND WE MUST CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE THIS WASTAGE AND ENCOURAGE THE DOCTORS TO STAY.+

HE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY SET UP A SPECIAL UNIT, HEADED BY A SENIOR CONSULTANT, TO LOOK INTO THE MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING WAYS AND MEANS OF INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF DOCTORS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

DR FANG ALSO MADE FOUR FURTHER SUGGESTIONS TO REDRESS THE IMBALANCE.

FIRST, HE SAID, MORE POSTS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE ON CONTRACT TERMS FOR DOCTORS WHO WISH TO REJOIN THE SERVICE.

+ I EXPECT THAT SOME PRIVATE DOCTORS WHO HAVE PASSED THE EARLY RETIREMENT AGE AND HAVE ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES FINANCIALLY MAY WELL CONSIDER A GOVERNMENT CONTRACT ATTRACTIVE.

+THEY BRING WITH THEM A RICH STORE OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE AND COULD PLAY A PARTICULARLY USEFUL ROLE IN TRAINING THE YOUNGER DOCTORS,+ HE SAID.

SECONDLY, HE THOUGHT THAT LIMITED PRIVATE PRACTICE FOR SENIOR RANKING GOVERNMENT MEDICAL OFFICERS ON PENSIONABLE ESTABLISHMENT WOULD ENCOURAGE GOOD AND EXPERIENCED DOCTORS TO REMAIN IN THE SERVICE.

+THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO KEEP SOME OF THE FEES CHARGED UP TO A PRESCRIBED CEILING, HE SAID. THIS HAS WORKED WELL IN OTHER COUNTRIES NOT ONLY TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE DOCTORS THEMSELVES BUT ALSO TO THE PATIENTS IN GENERAL BECAUSE IT FOSTERS A CLOSER DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP+.

IN FACT, A SIMILAR BUT INADEQUATE SCHEME IS ALREADY OPERATING IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG,

THIRDLY, DR FANG QUESTIONED WHETHER THE EXISTING SCARCE PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES ARE BEING USED TO THE IR OPTIMUM OR IS THERE SCOPE TO RELIEVE THEM OF DUTIES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE THEIR PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE?

FOURTHLY, HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER A DISTINCT ICH AWARD+ SCHEME FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE TO RECOGNISE GOOD WORK, PARTICULARLY IN LESS POPULAR POSTS.

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