XN000022-1989-03-08 — Page 36

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1989

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FIXED RATES OF HONORARIA FOR MEDICAL STAFF APPROVED

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CERTAIN MEDICAL STAFF IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WHO, DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGE, CONSISTENTLY HAVE TO WORK UNUSUALLY LONG HOURS TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED WILL RECEIVE FIXED RATES OF HONORARIA.

THE NEW ARRANGENENT, APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TODAY (WEDNESDAY), WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR.

THE RATES FOR MEDICAL OFFICERS AND SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICERS WILL BE FIXED AT EITHER $1,750 OR $3,500 PER MONTH WHILE THE RATE FOR CONSULTANTS WILL BE $1,750, ALL DEPENDING ON THE CLINICAL UNITS IN WHICH THEY WORK OR SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT DUE TO THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL STAFF, A SITUATION EXACERBATED BY THE HIGH WASTAGE RATE OF EXPERIENCED MEDICAL OFFICERS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE MAJORITY OF MEDICAL STAFF ON-CALL DUTIES IN CERTAIN VERY BUSY CLINICAL UNITS IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS HAVE TO WORK CONSISTENTLY LONG HOURS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MEDICAL SUPERVISION OF PATIENTS OUTSIDE NORMAL OFFICE HOURS.

UNDER NORMAL RULES, CIVIL SERVANTS IN ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL GRADES, IRRESPECTIVE OF RANK AND PAY POINTS, ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME ALLOWANCES AND HONORARIA FOR OVERTIME WORK.

HOWEVER, HE ADDED, THE CONSISTENTLY AND UNUSUALLY LONG HOURS OF WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE MEDICAL STAFF CONCERNED ARE SIGNIFICANTLY IN

EXCESS OF ANY NORMAL OVERTIME WORK NORMALLY EXPECTED OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF.

"SUCH PROLONGED HOURS OF WORK UNDOUBTEDLY PLACE, AND WILL CONTINUE TO PLACE, A CONSIDERABLE BURDEN ON THE MEDICAL STAFF CONCERNED AND INEVITABLY CAUSE A DEGREE OF DISRUPTION TO THEIR FAMILY AND SOCIAL LIVES," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"IN VIEW OF THE EXCEPTIONAL

CIRCUMSTANCES, PAYMENT OF AN

HONORARIUM IS JUSTIFIED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WILL REVIEW THE CONTINUED NEED FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE HONORARIUM WIIEN SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE TO THE MEDICAL STAFF POSITION.

THE NEW ARRANGEMENT IS ESTIMATED TO COST THE GOVERNMENT ADDITIONAL OF ABOUT $50 MILLION PER ANNUM.

AN

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