XN000022-1986-01-29 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1986

HOWEVER, HE SAID, THERE HAD BEEN A DISTURBING INCREASE IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1985, PROBABLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF UNLICENSED BILLIARD CLUBS.

+1 CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE TAKING STEPS TO BRING UNLICENSED BILLIARD CLUBS UNDER CONTROL AND OPEN TO THE POLICE TO ENSURE THAT LAW AND ORDERS IS MAINTAINED IN THESE ESTABLISHMENTS,+ MR THOMAS SAID.

HEALTH SERVICE MAINTAINED DESPITE DOCTOR SHORTAGE

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WHILE THE SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR MIGHT CAUSE STRAIN IN SOME AREAS, THE OVERALL AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF HEALTH SERVICES COULD NONETHELESS BE MAINTAINED, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT REVIEW CONDUCTED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE SHORTFALL OF DOCTORS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN 1985 WAS 490 OUT OF A TOTAL REQUIREMENT OF 2 510.

HOWEVER IT HAD TO BE STRESSED THAT THIS NUMBER ONLY REPRESENTED A SHORTFALL AS AGAINST A REQUIREMENT BASED ON PLANNING STANDARDS, HE SAID, IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM.

THERE WERE AT PRESENT 152 VACANCIES FOR DOCTORS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, OUT OF A TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT OF 2 162, REPRESENTING A VACANCY RATE OF SEVEN PER CENT.

THE VACANCIES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR MAINLY OCCURRED IN THE LESS POPULAR SPECIALITIES SUCH AS ANAESTHESIA AND PATHOLOGY, HE SAID.

MEASURES BEING TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO OVERCOME THE SHORTAGE INCLUDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MEDICAL FACULTY IN THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG WHICH WOULD PRODUCE ITS FIRST GROUP OF QUALIFIED DOCTORS IN 1987, AND OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT OF DOCTORS WHEN VACANCIES COULD NOT BE FILLED LOCALLY, PARTICULARLY IN SENIOR POSTS IN ANAESTHESIA, PATHOLOGY, +ENT+ AND DERMATOLOGY.

WITH REGARD TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS NO METHOD OF ADEQUATELY DETERMINING THE DEMAND FOR AND SHORTFALL OF DOCTORS THERE.

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