XN000022-1984-05-16 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984

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+THESE WILL EFFECTIVELY SPEED UP THE LICENTIATE PROCESS, POSSIBLY TO ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE TIME REQUIRED UNDER THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS.

+ IT IS HOPED THAT THESE AMENDMENTS WILL BRING ABOUT AN INCREASED SUPPLY OF DOCTORS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR WITH MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE, HE SAID.

DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP IN HER COMMENT STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF +A CERTAIN STANDARD, A FAIR STANDARD AND THE LOCAL CHANGING DEMAND+.

+SUCH PURPOSES APPEAR SIMPLE AND THE BILL STRAIGHTFORWARD BUT THE TASK OF THE MEDICAL COUNCIL TO EXECUTE SUCH IS BY FAR MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT MAY FIRST APPEAR.

+THE TASK IS MADE MORE DIFFICULT WHEN, FOR THE SAKE OF COMPLETENESS AND HIGH FLEXIBILITY, THE BILL ENCOMPASSES EXEMPTION CLAUSES WITHOUT ADEQUATELY SPELLING OUT CONCRETE

GUIDELINES UNDER WHICH SUCH EXEMPTIONS ARE TO BE GRANTED, THIS OPENS THE BILL TO VARYING INTERPRETATIONS AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO CONTROVERSY, + DR IP SAID.

WHILE EXPRESSING RESERVATIONS, SHE SAID THAT NEVERTHELESS,

SHE SUPPORTED THE BILL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

* THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS GIVEN THE ASSURANCE

THAT FULL EXEMPTION WILL BE GRANTED ONLY ON RARE OCCASIONS.

* INTERNAL GUIDELINES FOR EXEMPTIONS WILL BE WORKED OUT BY

THE MEDICAL COUNCIL.

* SHE HAS CONFIDENCE IN THE EXPERTISE OF THE MEMBERS OF

THE MEDICAL COUNCIL IN NOT LIGHTLY EXECUTING FULL EXEMPTIONS.

* THE +NO RESIDENTIAL QUALIFICATION+ AMENDMENT MUST BE REVIEWED

IN LIGHT OF THE LOCAL CHANGING DEMAND OF DOCTORS, PARTICULARLY ON THE ANTICIPATED GRADUATION FROM THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL IN A FEW YEARS' TIME.

DR IP ALSO MOVED AN AMENDMENT TO THE BILL WHICH, SHE SAID, WAS TO ENSURE THAT A COMBINATION OF SURGICAL AND MEDICAL QUALIFICATIONS MUST COEXIST TO MAKE A GRADUATE FULLY QUALIFIED.

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, THANKED MEMBERS FOR THE IR SUPPORT OF THE BILL.

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