We must act now to solve our medical staff shortfall: Lam Woon-kwong
Making examination system more flexible and luring home our sons and daughters studying overseas could help solve acute staffing shortfall
The outgoing Hospital Authority chairman Anthony Wu Ting-yuk says the biggest regret of his nine-year term heading the authority is being unable to solve the acute shortage of medical staff, especially doctors.
He gave the example of the well-equipped North Lantau Hospital in Tung Chung, saying it could not be put into full use because of this shortfall in medical manpower.
The problem is not new, and will get worse. The authority is now short of about 300 doctors, some 6 per cent of the total strength of its workforce.
Despite the authority making vigorous efforts to re-employ retired doctors to work on a part-time basis, the vacancy rate remains uncomfortably high for such an essential service.
The projected gap between the supply of doctors and patient demand is expected to widen further until 2018. Then, hopefully, it may be narrowed by a significant rise in the number of graduating interns from our local universities.
Meanwhile, given the strong economy and increasing demand for quality private medical services from non-local patients, the brain drain of experienced doctors from the authority to the private sector is likely to continue.