HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL —–8 March 1989
香港立法局
一九八九年三月八日
61
Given the seriousness of the shortage of doctors, let me suggest several possible remedies. Firstly, we need to train more doctors from our universities over and above the 290 produced annually now. After all, without taking the wastage factor into consideration, we shall need up to a thousand more doctors to attend to the extra 5 000 beds due by 1992.
Secondly, if in the near future such expansion is not possible in our universities we should consider "buying places" at overseas university medical schools. Subject to adequate safeguards we could, with loans, grants and contracts, send young people overseas for training as doctors, on condition that they return to Hong Kong on the completion of their studies.
Thirdly, we should immediately recruit several hundred doctors from overseas countries; either from the Commonwealth or other advanced countries like the United States. This measure must help to reduce the burden on our overworked doctors and lead to much better patient care.
Fourthly, we should create enhanced opportunities for post-graduate study, to allow our own doctors to ensure that their knowledge and skills are kept up- to-date.
And lastly, we should mount a determined media campaign to attract girls into the nursing profession, rather than them taking up employment in other more glamorous sectors.
These suggestions which I have made will naturally call for additional expenditure for our medical services. I shall support any suitable steps which are necessary to make improvements in this area at this time.
Finally, the Hospital Authority will be established next year. I am confident that it will come up with recommendations for the benefit of Hong Kong's overall long-term medical development.
MR. DAVID CHEUNG: Sir, I rise to speak as a concerned citizen and Member of this Council.
Based on my experience in dealing with Government in my capacity as a principal of a school in the aided sector, I must say that it has always been most difficult, if not impossible, to get the Government to improve on things because Government is a huge bureaucracy with impenetrable layers. One has to talk and talk, then shout and shout, then fight and fight before one gets somewhere. Frustratingly enough, sometimes one gets nowhere. Having said that, I must
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