In the run-up to the Singapore general elections, up to three public sector doctors may possibly be fielded as new candidates for the ruling party. Dr Janil Puthucheary (KK Hospital) was introduced fairly recently, while presumably Dr Tan Wu Meng (National Cancer Centre) and Dr Abdul Razak (National University Hospital) will get their turn in the spotlight soon. I presume Dr Tan and Dr Razak will get less heated online discussion upon introduction compared to Dr Puthucheary, but that may not be a bad thing.
I have had the opportunity to speak to two of the three on occasion, and they have always struck me as being bright, full of good ideas, eager to help others, and (as far as I can tell) idealistic. It seems a shame to lose good doctors to the political arena, but perhaps they have a different calling and will achieve that higher potential. Certainly the current Education Minister, however many more millions he may have made each year as a private breast surgeon (although the gap seems to be closing), did not command the level of respect and authority then that he does now. And he would have had neither those millions nor the authority had he remained as a general surgeon in our public sector hospitals.
Browsing through the blog posts on this site as well as the many comments, one might come away with the impression that most doctors led privileged lives and blame the system or their patients (but hardly ever themselves) when things don't go right. And they complain about their earnings despite the vast majority being above the 80th centile in terms of income. The public can hardly be blamed for thinking that the SMC is opaque and doctors flock together to protect their own (irrespective of whether an actual wrong had been committed) when so many distinguished names in the medical community appeared to have stepped forward to protect Dr Susan Lim (the Director of NCC, one of the most respected and brilliant surgeons in the country, issued an explanation but it was undoubtedly too late). It must seem to many that our doctors "just don't get it".
Let's hope that these young doctors entering politics will help to give the medical community a better reputation, if only by proxy, at least locally.
8 comments:
Does the eerie silence indicate that docs don't care a hoot about politics? Either too busy making tonnes or too dogged a life to have the time to spare? Fact is, once someone enters politics, he is by definition a politician. He hopes to shape the political agenda and is at the same time shaped by the political process. While one may argue a priori his background can be useful in a related portfolio and therefore give a lift to the reputation of the medical profession, that's presumption. Professional background (and therefore imputation to the profession) is irrelevant in the measure of the man in politics.
So cheem ar? Aiyah....just look at the number of young doctors enter health care admin and see how many give the community a better reputation? A professor once told me that many young doctors go into admin saying they want to help their colleagues this and that. After they enter the admin service they learn the KPIs and the ways to get to the top is to play the game according to its rules not theirs. After a few games of golf with the atas the conversion is complete. The only way doctors can give the medical community a better reputation is if ALL doctors stand united. This unfortunately will never happen in Singapore because everyone is too self centered and/or scared.
Well, we have an object example. Channel News Asia today reports of Marine Parade GRC MP, Dr Ong Seh Hong:
SM Goh - "a good-hearted doctor and one who is selflessly stepping down from the Ubi division."
Veteran grassroots leader - "a exemplary doctor...considerate, a good listener, and always there when needed. You were there when staff of the Town Council were feeling depressed and needed someone to console them and to get out of a rut. Because of you Marine Parade town council has performed well and even the general population of residents indicated that they were 'well satisfied' with the performance of the staff."
Fellow MP - "an easy going person, who was prepared to listen and accommodative."
At least, docs are exemplary, good-hearted, considerate, good listeners, always there when needed, easy-going, accommodative. No?
Go figure.
Yes. Doctors are push overs. Easy to bully. Slap one cheek they will turn the other to let you slap. No?
Go figure.
I was just reading Dr Puthucheary's profile on PAP website.
There had been debate before about whether those Singaporeans studying abroad should come back to Singapore or stay on where they are.
I have repeatedly told them to stay abroad, finish whatever training they want AND THEN return if they still want to.
Look to Dr Puthucheary's example. Singapore is much better for doctors who are foreigners and totally foreign trained than it is for the locally trained ones.
^
Really? Even doctors are jaded over the government's pro-FT policy? I would have thought as part of the elite, doctors as a whole would have been more supportive of government policies. Interesting...
doctors are part of the elite?
someone must have forgotten to let someone know, because the payscales aren't pegged to civil service.
as to why doctors keep quiet? Perhaps because we learn from the mistakes of others?
I think this can go on with the help of doctors.
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