Coronavirus: Hong Kong private sector doctors cross picket lines to help at hospitals, as volunteers emerge from disciplined services

Private medical specialists lend help amid manpower crunch, offer criticisms of strike action

Current and retired disciplined service members could be employed in helping with body temperature checks in crowded areas

Reading Time:2 minutes

Amid a strike by health care workers demanding the border be closed, about 135 private sector doctors helped at public hospitals in Hong Kong on Monday. Photo: Fung Chang

Published: 9:52pm, 3 Feb 2020Updated: 12:11am, 4 Feb 2020

Amid a manpower crunch worsened by a strike of Hong Kong health care workers, more than 135 doctors from the Association of Private Medical Specialists of Hong Kong, a local union representing about 1,200 private practitioners, agreed to cross picket lines on Monday, with some already beginning to treat patients at the city’s public hospitals.

The news came as more than 300 current and retired officers from across Hong Kong’s disciplined services offered to volunteer their personal time to aid in the city’s battle with the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Anaesthesiologist Veronica Wai Yuk-chun was among the private health professionals reporting for duty at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po on Monday. There, the first order of business was learning anti-coronavirus health protocols, including the six-step process necessary to put on protective gear – there are 10 to remove it.

“I don’t see an acute staff shortage today at the hospital, but we all need to put our shoulders to the wheel at this critical time as we fight the battle against the epidemic,” she said.

Mak Kam-fai, chairman of the Hong Kong Disciplined Services Volunteer Corps, has said about 300 people from across departments have offered to help in the coronavirus fight. Photo: Edward Wong

The veteran doctor also urged striking medical practitioners to rethink their industrial action.