Letter to Dr. Ko WM for Pay Level Survey of civil servant and HA staff (2)

27 July 2015

Dr. Ko Wing-man, BBS, JP

Secretary for Food & Health,

Food & Health Bureau, Government of the HKSAR

Dear Dr. Ko,

Re: Pay Level Survey of civil servant and HA staff

We would like to express our views towards the HA’s decisions in response to the Pay Level Survey of civil servant.

The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) had announced on 10th February 2015 that The Chief Executive-in- council has decided on the application of the finding of the 2013 Pay Level Survey (PLS) to the civil service. According to the decisions, the salaries of civilian civil servant in Job level 5 (i.e. those remunerated on MPS points 45 to 49) are to be raised by 3 per cent with effect from 1st October 2014. The increment will also be applied to disciplined services and Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

In view of the survey result, we have contacted the cluster human resource units about the HA’s decision whether HA would follow the recommendation. Their replies are disappointing.  It is more disappointing that the increment excludes HA staff.

Over the past years, our senior colleagues have provided not only high standard clinical service to the public, but also training and teaching to the junior doctors to safeguard the public’s health and cultivate the next generation.  They have upheld their professionalism and gone through the hard times together with HA in facing the challenges of SARS, swine flu, manpower shortage, influenza outbreaks and lead poisoning incidence. Their devotion to duty and the professionalism should be of high respect, appreciation and rewards.

We would like to clarify:

1)         Would HA staff share the similar pay rise in line with civil servants?

2)         If not, what are rationales behind?

We would be most grateful if you could reply us as soon as possible.

Best Regards,

Yours sincerely

Dr. CHAN Pierre

President, HKPDA

Cc to Dr. LEUNG Pak Yin, JP, Chief Executive, Hospital Authority

References:

1) 財會通過高級公僕加薪　周五續審民生撥款

檢討醫管局（六）：醫院管理局檢討督導委員會報告

工會認為「醫院管理局檢討督導委員會報告」是改革醫管局的重要第一步，並希望醫管局盡快落實報告內容，醫管局成立了二十多年，檢討委員會也花了兩年時間，工會和市民一樣，等待改善醫管局的行政管理和改善公營醫療服務，等到「頸都長」。

請留意報告建議增加「透明度」只有員工的份兒，而報告建議管理層增加的是「中央集權」。

要增加誰的透明度？
在報告中，「透明度」出現了30次，但可借只集中在資源管理 和人事管理上：
第4b項建議：加強資源申請和分配過程的透明度；
第5b項建議：醫管局總辦事處應參與晉升選拔和職位調派工作，藉此提高有關過程的透明度....
第6b項建議：醫管局應就培訓制定甄選機制 ，以提高透明度和促進事業發展。
其實五大檢討事項中，在管理及組織架構、和整體管理兩大課題上，沒有提過「透明度」，即是管理層不需要「透明度」嗎？

無論用任何方法分配資源，包括錢、病人、硬件、軟件、醫護人手， 任何單一方法都不能解決多年的問題，另一方面可以有一條很複雜的算式計算資源分配，看似很公平，我覺得最重要的方法是公開透明和有效監察。

結果報告是增加「透明度」只有員工的份兒，而報告管理層增加的是「中央集權」。

「合久必分，分久必合」- 由「中央集權」到「山頭主義」，再重回「中央集權」？
在報告中，「統籌」一詞出現了160次，管理不善和統籌不力有人要負責嗎？
當然是沒有人要負責 ，那麼以前統籌不力，將來「中央集權」大家有信心嗎？
我擔心中央集權，以往總部對待「山頭主義」，是不為也亦不能也，如果報告建議走向另一個極端 「中央集權」也非上策。我建議醫管局總部不應採取二十年前失敗的「中央集權」(主動式)，而應該加強中央監察和積極不干預(被動式)，達到不為也非不能也，自然藥到病除。我的建議方法也是公開透明和有效監察。

工會認為「醫院管理局檢討督導委員會報告」是改革醫管局的重要第一步，並希望醫管局盡快落實報告內容。

檢討醫管局(一) ： 管理及組織架構
檢討醫管局(二) ： 資源分配
檢討醫管局(三)： 在 Google上找到的新聞
檢討醫管局(四)人事管理：違反指引和犯法
檢討醫管局(五)：輪候時間的迷思

陳沛然醫生
香港公共醫療醫生協會會長
醫院管理局檢討督導委員會 非官方成員

香港公共醫療醫生協會會長2015年度週年晚宴演辭

醫界撕裂？世代之爭？ [註一]
醫生每星期都會集合一起巡病房，我們叫做大巡，由顧問醫生至實習醫生醫學生也會參與，會討論一些困難的病症。 上星期我在大巡遇到一個病人，心律不正吃了新薄血藥為了防止缺血性中風，其後不幸腦出血中風和胃出血，討論是否應該再吃新薄血藥？ 在場二十多個醫生意見都不同，有些說用阿士匹靈、薄血針、薄血藥、新薄血藥等，某個年紀以安全先行，另一組年齡較為進取，這又是世代撕裂、之爭了。
醫生就是這樣的，不會盲目跟從老師和書本，撕裂和世代之爭每個星期學術討論都可能發生，我們的核心價值是為了病人和理據 evidence based， 很久以前心絞痛治療方法是開刀剪斷神經線，十幾年前老師教我的胃出血治療方法是切胃手術，擴散癌病已經是末期癌病。就是因為醫生這種撕裂世代之爭本質，才會不斷有破舊立新的治療方法。


下醫醫病?
請問有誰看過「五個小孩的校長」？ 大家感動麼？我也帶女兒看了，在我們吹捧著赢在起跑線、虎媽、補習中英數、十項課外活動，原來呂校長還原基本步以人為本便能感動香港了。在牛津字典查「教育」一詞，解釋為其他人指導德智體群美， Give intellectual, moral, and social instruction to (someone), typically at a school or university [註三]，我們在埋怨下一代時，又有幾多家長和老師能跳出赢在起跑線的框框呢？

前大律師公會主席石永泰資深大律師在今年法律年度開啟典禮演辭中點出，「法治」並不只是守法，「法治」概念更包括：尊重獨立的司法機構、法律條文必對人權作出保障、執法者行使法律賦予的酌情權時必須尊重個人的權利和自由 [註四]。

我要做好呢份工，我要醫好呢個病，跟停留在追求分數、奉公守法的層次一樣，「上醫醫國，中醫醫人，下醫醫病」也是這個道理。衛生署做了很多預防疾病工作，抱負是建設一個健康的香港 [註五]，香港醫學會會徽上使命是維護民康 [註六]。我相信不同工作職業，在做好呢份工之上，都有以人為本、保護人、尊重人和改善人生活的理想。如果電腦程式員只是埋頭寫大家都不明白的程式碼，你覺得電子科技能改善你的生活嗎？ 大家手上的智能電話會出現嗎？


我愛香港醫療
我看香港醫療政策，先宏觀看看，現在香港社會問題太多，包括政治政改、土地、房屋(劏房、公屋、居屋、私樓)、教育(幼兒、中小學學位、三三四、副學士、大學、國民教育)、廣播(電視、電話)，我認為醫療問題已經是比較政治穩定，也不入十大問題之內，當然不代表香港醫療沒問題。
我希望病人、市民、傳媒和醫生都珍惜現今我認為已經很好的香港醫療制度；香港醫生不會見死不救，沒有身份証救、上次沒有付錢的救、甚至剛剛投訴完的都救；香港醫生不收紅包，也不會以藥費補貼；請跳出香港看看身邊國家的情況，

香港公共醫療醫生協會是一個工會，首要目標是保護公家醫生會員的權益；我在這裡呼籲我們的公共醫生，除了「醫病」外，别忘記「醫人」，可以的話多關心社會關心國家，香港優質醫療，有賴各位醫生努力，謝謝。

陳沛然醫生
香港公共醫療醫生協會會長

[註一] 2014年10月29日 明報報導 反佔中撐佔中 醫界撕裂
[註二] 什麼是醫德？
[註三] 牛津字典
[註四] 前大律師公會主席石永泰資深大律師 2015年法律年度開啟典禮演辭
[註五] 香港特區政府衛生署網頁
[註六] 香港醫學會網頁 

Big events in June 2015, first to return your HKMA questionnaire before 2 Jun

Dear doctors,

There will be several big medical events in June 2015.

1. First, remember to return the HKMA questionnaire by fax (28650943) or email (hkma@hkma.org) (or self-addressed envelope).   The deadline is 5pm 2 June 2015.  http://hkpdanews.blogspot.hk/2015/05/big-events-in-june-2015-first-to-return.html
2. HKPDA will have AGM on 22 Jun 2015 (AGM annoucement).  If you want to join, kindly email us via hkpda2012@gmail.com   Please renew your membership via http://hkpda.org.hk/membership.htm
3. The Government may announce the report of the Review of Hospital Authority in the second half of 2015.  Feel free to give us your comments via this link.

Yours truly,

Dr. Pierre CHAN

President of HKPDA

http://hkpda.org.hk

HKPDA 25th AGM

Twenty-Fifth Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the 25^th Annual General Meeting of the Association

is to be held at

Diamond Ballroom, Eaton Hotel, 380 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

on 22 June, 2015 ( Monday ) at 6:00 pm

Agenda

1.      To elect Council Members from the 13 divisions as defined in the Constitution.

2.      To elect the President and Vice‐President.

3.      Presentation of the Annual Report of the Council.

4.      Presentation of the Report from the Auditor.

http://j.mp/HKPDA2015AGM 

HKPDA 「檢討醫管局」會員諮詢大會

香港公共醫療醫生協會 HKPDA 和 香港醫學會 HKMA 在2015年3月4日 成功合辦了「檢討醫院管理局運作專責委員會」會員諮詢大會。

HKPDA 和 HKMA 公開地邀請所有醫生参加，那天有多位重量級醫生出席，包括香港醫學會 HKMA 會長、副會長、會董，HKPDA 各會董， 當然有公家私家醫生。

十分感謝 香港醫學會前會長 謝鴻興醫生帶出討論綱領:
管理架構，
聯網安排，
資源管理，
人事管理，
成本效益，
服務管理，
整體管理及
人口老化。

多年來 HKPDA 都是在伊院攪論壇，今年一月的醫學界政改論壇也是在伊院。這次嘗試跳出框框，在九龍西聯網廣華醫院舉辦論壇，如果再有機會，我希望能到不同的聯網醫院接觸不同的醫生會員。

Letter to Dr. Leung PY about Pay Level Survey of civil servant

2 Mar 2015

Dr. LEUNG Pak Yin, JP

Chief Executive, Hospital Authority

Dear Dr. LEUNG,

Re: Pay Level Survey of civil servant

We would like to express our views towards the HA’s decisions in response to the Pay Level Survey of civil servant.

The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) had announced on 10th February 2015 that The Chief Executive-in- council has decided on the application of the finding of the 2013 Pay Level Survey (PLS) to the civil service. According to the decisions, the salaries of civilian civil servant in Job level 5 (i.e. those remunerated on MPS points 45 to 49) are to be raised by 3 per cent with effect from 1st October 2014. The increment will also be applied to disciplined services and Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

In view of the survey result, we have contacted the cluster human resource units about the HA’s decision whether HA would follow the recommendation. Their replies were disappointing.

Over the past years, our senior colleagues have provided not only high standard clinical service to the public, but also training and teaching to the junior doctors to safeguard the public’s health and cultivate the next generation.  They have upheld their professionalism and gone through the hard times together with HA in facing the challenges of SARS, swine flu, manpower shortage and even the current influenza outbreak. Their devotion to duty and the professionalism should be of high respect, appreciation and rewards.

We would like to clarify with HAHO:

1)         Would HA staff share the similar pay rise in line with civil servants?

2)         If not, what are rationales behind?

We would be most grateful if you could reply us as soon as possible.

Best Regards,

Yours sincerely

Dr. NG Chi Ho Vice president, HKPDA

Dr. CHAN Pierre President, HKPDA

Letter to Dr. Leung PY about Hospital Authority (HA) Pay Adjustment 2014/15

Dr. P Y LEUNG, JP

Chief Executive

Hospital Authority

Dear Dr. LEUNG,

Re: Hospital Authority (HA) Pay Adjustment 2014/15

We have recently received complaints from our doctor members concerning the Hospital Authority (HA) Pay Adjustment 2014/15 and we would like to direct it to you for your further action.

According to HR Circular No. 5/2015, no retrospective adjustment will be made to the pay of those ex-employees who had left HA before 22 Jan 2015 on any grounds except the followings.

(a)       retirement / approved early retirement (HRPM Chapter K2);

(b)    termination by HA on grounds of poor health (HRPM Chapter K3) or death of employees (HRPM Chapter K4); and

(c)        redundancy / staff surplus situations (HRPM Chapter K3), if any.

As a matter of fact, Civil Servants on resignation will have his/her wages calculated up to his/her last day of employment, which takes retrospective effect from 1 April 2014. The HA’s measure of excluding ex-employees who resigned before 22 Jan 2015 from the Pay Adjustment Exercise was announced without any staff consultation and we believe that such policy creates unfairness and discrimination to them. This undoubtedly further jeopardizes the morale among medical staff and the trust to our HAHO management.

We would like to know the rationale on which the exclusion criteria are based and please provide relevant documents. We would be most grateful if you would reply us as soon as possible so that this matter could be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Fergus YAN Treasurer, HKPDA c.c. Dr. Theresa LI, Head of Human Resources, Hospital Authority Head Office Dr. LAU Ka Hin, Chairman of DSGCC, AC Department of Psychiatry, QMH HKPDA members

Dr. Pierre CHAN President, HKPDA

<自願醫保計劃諮詢文件>意見書

你支持政府推出自願醫保計劃嗎？我在過去三星期收集公共醫生會員的意見，包括發電郵、電子意見書，和在不同場合傾談，暫時接觸我的公共醫生都是歡迎這個計劃。

最近公佈了不同專科門診輪候時間，某些門診竟要等候兩年才能第一次見到醫生，醫生、護士和其他醫療人員工作得十分辛苦，政府每年投放四百多億，醫管局越做得好越多病人排隊。我很不服氣，錢和氣力都花光了，香港醫療仍然是未如理想，醫生等待政府出手改革香港醫療等得很苦。

香港公共醫療醫生一定會照顧沒有錢、老弱和緊急的病症，一定會「包底」，希望這個自願醫保計劃，可以分流一小部份有能力負擔和非緊急的病人，病人可以選擇繼續在公家排隊或是用醫保去私營市場。我希望可以做到病人有選擇權、輪候時間縮短雙贏的結果，希望各位認真考慮這個自願醫保計劃方案。

大家如有任何意見，請提點小弟：

Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/hkpda2016

Questionnaire: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1reA-6Mgq-teMApoLg0S71uh0Z8s5VFHdhi-PTkiS36c/viewform
Blogger:           http://hkpdanews.blogspot.hk/2015/01/questions-to-hkpda-members.html

祝 工作愉快 身體健康

陳沛然醫生敬上

香港公共醫療醫生協會會長

2015年2月5日

參考資料：

• http://www.vhis.gov.hk/
• http://www.hpdo.gov.hk/en/hpsbackground.html

Questions to HKPDA members

Dear HKPDA members,

I would like to ask for your comment here ....

1) Will you attend the second HKPDA forum 2015?

• Topic:   Consultation to public doctor on HA review
• Date:    4 March 2015 (Wednesday)
• Time:    18:30 - 20:00
• Place:   Lecture Theatre, Kwong Wah Hospital, Kowloon
• Moderator: Dr. CHAN Pierre 陳沛然醫生, 香港公共醫療醫生協會會長
• Guest speakers: Dr. TSE Hung Hing 謝鴻興醫生 香港醫學會前會長
• (Cable TV 1 Feb 2015) 醫管局草擬檢討報告料年中完成
• (Cable TV 1 Feb 2015) 病人組織歡迎改善聯網撥款制度

2) Any comments on Volunary Health Insurance Scheme?

• Further info:
• http://www.vhis.gov.hk/
• http://www.hpdo.gov.hk/en/hpsbackground.html

3) Any comments on Regulation of private healthcare facilities?  

• Further info
• http://www.fhb.gov.hk/en/press_and_publications/press/2014/press141215a.htm
• http://www.hpdo.gov.hk/en/fhsdechancingservices.html

4) Any comments on further 5-year AC promotion program?

Enter your comment here

Dr. Pierre Chan
President, HKPDA
http://hkpda.org.hk