Hong Kong public doctors order more seats on key poll body
Greater presence on Election Committee considered the best way to have a bigger say on health resources
The leader of the largest public doctors’ union hopes more seats on the committee that elects the city’s leader will give it a bigger say on health care resources.
Dr Ng Chi-ho, president of the Public Doctors’ Association, told the Post that gaining more influence on the Election Committee would give the body a louder voice on health care policy.
“I hope public doctors can form a stronger team and gain 10 to 20 seats. That’s how we can get bargaining power with the next government,” he said.
Ng, a 38-year-old public gastroenterologist, is head of the association for the next two years after succeeding Dr Pierre Chan Pui-yin in June.
The medical sector currently holds 30 seats on the 1,200-strong committee, which will hold subsector elections in December.
He said there were fewer than 10 public doctors elected onto the committee in the past.
“Our association could work together with other public doctors’ groups. As there are several thousand such doctors, you are very likely to win if they support you.” The association was a key player in protests by public and private doctors last October that forced the Hospital Authority to grant pay rises.