Always at the heart of the debate: Dr Gabriel Choi Kin
Outspoken veteran of the medical field Dr Gabriel Choi Kin looks set to be the only candidate for next president of the Medical Association
Two years ago Dr Gabriel Choi Kin was the mastermind who backed Dr Louis Shih Tai-cho to become the president of the Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA), the city’s largest doctors’ group.
But since then, the outspoken doctors have been engaged in on-going rows, at odds over a number of sensitive issues – medical and political.
Tensions escalated to a point to prompt Shih to suddenly announce his resignation last week after discord with Choi and most of the members in the association over the upcoming reform proposal on the city’s medical watchdog and regulating body.
The resignation means the position will be vacant for two months until an election takes place in the association’s general meeting in July.
Choi, a well-respected nephrologist and former HKMA president for many terms, is so far the only candidate who has announced interest in the seat and he is likely to stand uncontested.
Being the next president means he would be picking up on all the hot issues the association is facing currently.
One of the most contentious issues has seen a split in the sector on the reform of the doctors’ regulating body, the Medical Council, which has been criticised for its delay in taking disciplinary action against the doctors.