I write this message after I have decided to run for the post of Vice-President of Hong Kong Medical Association. Some members asked me why I did not go for the Presidency. For me, it does not matter what position one holds if one has the dedication to serve the profession and to speak the truth. As usual, I vow to serve the profession with high degree of democracy and transparency.
Second thing I have in mind is that since Hong Kong Doctors Union (Trade Union) is just born and I would like to devote most of my time (you have to excuse me for excluding family time) to strive for a strong brotherhood (sisterhood) Doctors Union.
I wish to thank you all for giving me the chance to serve you as the First President of the new Union. With a strong Council of 17 members and your valuable input, I am sure our Union will prosper in no time.
To protect the doctors' rights and autonomy is one of the main objectives of our Union. HKDU has sent the draft of the Declaration of Doctors’ Rights and Autonomy to the Consumer Council, Patients' Rights Concern Groups and other medical bodies to exchange views with them on the issue. By issuing the Declaration, we hope more and more people will understand that doctors’ rights and autonomy are as important as those of the patients. Over emphasizing one side would lead to imbalance and will eventually prove harmful to patients. Unrealistic expectations and demands by the patients and society and disregard of doctors’ obligation to abide by the code of ethics by some patients would seriously antagonize the doctor-patient partnership and consequently damage both doctors’ and patients’ rights. We hope that the Declaration of Doctors’ Rights and Autonomy will be promulgated to the public within this year.
We are still receiving complaints from members on the issue of Asia Medinet. A number of our members have just received debit notes from the Magistrate Courts for sums amounting to 70% of the amount of doctors’ remuneration which was paid by Asia Medinet through a third party. The reason is some people have played a dirty job by making life difficult through some misinformed legal documents.
The All Doctors Group, after resting for some months, will have a chance of resurrection especially so when the government wishes to proceed with Public-Private Interface. The negotiation for contractual involvement of All Doctors Group in medical and health services for the new Government servants will start soon. Please be reminded that the All Doctors Group is a non-profit making organization and its success depends very much on the unselfish involvement of all doctors. We must stand up, be our own boss, decide our own destiny and should NEVER become “slaves” of those commercial profiteering HMOs.
As I have said before, it does not matter what position you are in, you can help the profession. It does not matter what your beliefs are, as long as you are interested in the subject matters. We are most happy to receive your suggestions, your participation in formulating all such measures to protect our rights. We may wish to establish Task force on fighting against mandatory CME, Task force on HMOs, Task force on doctors’ rights, Task force on theft prevention in clinics, Task force on how to make a better living and Task force on dispensary monitoring etc. All these require your valuable input and participation. When the time comes, let’s join hands to work for the betterment of the medical profession.
Dr.Yeung Chiu Fat Henry
撰寫這通訊時我剛決定了參選香港醫學會的副會長一職。有會員問我為什麼不嘗試做會長。對我來說，什麼職位也不重要，最緊要是認真投入為醫學界服務和為業界說話。如以往一樣我誓要以高度民主和透明度替醫學界服務。
心中想著另一件事就是香港西醫工會剛成立，而我想撥出大部份時間，(家庭時間除外)，去嘗試營做一個強而有力，會員間情如手足的醫生工會。
對於各位給予小弟機會當上工會的第一任會長，我謹向各位致以萬二分謝意，亦承諾會竭盡所能為大家服務。有十七位幹事的強大幹事會共同努力工作，加上你們寶貴的意見，我肯定本工會必會很快便茁壯成長起來。
保障醫生權益與專業自主是本工會的主要目標之一。工會早已把醫生權益與自主的宣言的稿呈交予消費者委員會、病人權益關注組織及其他醫學團體就這題目交換意見。希望頒布這宣言後，會多些市民明白醫生權益與自主，同病人的權益一樣重要。若太偏重一方便會引致不平衡而終令病人受損。社會及病人對醫生的脫離實際希冀與要求，某些病人罔顧醫生必須遵守道德守則，便會嚴重損害醫生與病人的伙伴關係而導致損害醫生及病人的權益。我們冀望醫生權益與自由宣言能夠於一年內向市民頒布。
現在我們仍收到會員關於亞洲醫療網絡的投訴。有多位會員已收到法庭發出的追討欠單，討回第三者曾代亞洲醫療網絡支付欠會員約七成薪酬，原因是有人利用某些"意思模糊"的法律文件製造麻煩。
全港醫生大聯盟經過數月小休後，將會有機會復甦，尤其是現在政府要加強公私營醫療服務的合作。全港醫生大聯盟參與提供政府公務員醫療服務合約的磋商將快進行。請記著全港醫生大聯盟是一個非牟利組織，她的成功是要靠所有醫生無私的參與。我們要站起來、做自己的主人、決定自己的命運而永不要再做商營HMOs的「奴隸」。
如我之前所說，不論您擔當什麼職位，你亦可為醫學界服務。不論你的信念是什麼，只要你有興趣，我們很樂意接受閣下的建議和參與設立各樣保障醫生權益的方案。我們可能會設立對付強制性CME行動組、對HMOs行動組、醫生權益行動組、預防診所受劫行動組、救活私家診所行動組和監察藥房行動組等等。所有這些均需要大家的寶貴意見和參與。在適合的時間時，就讓我們為醫學界的發揚光大而攜手工作吧！
楊超發醫生
Othercir(9)