I refer to the report headlined, 'Doctors must 'emphasise human touch' ' (South China Morning Post, November 7) and in particular the quote that Hong Kong is 'a major player in global medical research'.
Whether or not this is true at present, it certainly will not be in the future. Under the current extremely restrictive medical licensing system, graduates of the finest medical schools in the world cannot practise here unless they pass an onerous series of exams and serve a one-year internship. In the latest exam given in September, only seven per cent of candidates passed just the first part.
The Hong Kong system inevitably leads to stagnation, as advances in medical care pass us by.
Contrast this to Singapore, where doctors trained in the US or Europe, after meeting basic qualifications, can practise as long as they have a job offer there.
Is anybody out there ready to assert that health care in Singapore is worse because of this policy, and willing to defend Hong Kong's current system? NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
