'New Policy Mustn't Hinder Young Doctors' Prospects'

The leader of a frontline doctors’ group said on Friday that he welcomes the Hospital Authority’s plan to retain clinical staff by extending their retirement age, but stressed that the new policy must not hinder the promotion prospects of younger doctors.

Tony Ling, president of the Hong Kong Doctors’ Association, was commenting on the authority’s decision to allow its medical staff to work until 65, rather than 60, to counter a worsening brain drain.

The authority said those who choose to stay will do frontline clinical work, adding that their extended employment will not affect the chances of younger doctors being promoted.

Ling said on an RTHK programme that he hopes the policies will remain this way.

“I hope in future they will continue to make good these promises. First of all, they must add new positions. The consultants who stay should not affect the promotion prospects of other medium rank staff. When the consultants reach 60 years old, their places should be freed up to promote associate consultants,” he said.

“Secondly, the [retained] staff must do clinical work. Instead of management work, they will help with frontline clinical work. We hope the policy will continue to work like this.”

But Ling expressed reservations when asked how much the policy will help ease a serious manpower shortage, pointing out that only a very small proportion of doctors who left the public healthcare system in recent years were retiring.

HA chairman Henry Fan said earlier that an increasing number of doctors and nurses have been leaving for various reasons. He said some were retiring, while others were leaving Hong Kong or had switched to the private sector.