Pinning hopes on Budget to curb brain drain

I REFER to the letters “Set up a Medical Services Commission” and “Promote specialists to stay” (The Star, Sept 23). It is high time the Health Ministry gives a detailed breakdown of the current grades held by specialists and sub-specialists in the civil service because I know for sure that many are still in UD48, UD52 and UD54 and only a few are in UD56. Please also provide the numbers of those in Jusa C, B and A.

The Public Services Department (PSD) must also be transparent and furnish details of the grades held by professionals in other ministries and government services.

I fully agree the medical service is distinct from the other services in the civil service and thus, there is a need to set up a Medical Services Commission.

There’s no point complaining that our experts are leaving for the private sector and abroad and doing nothing about it. Medical officers and specialists rarely air their concerns and frustrations in the open due to the General Orders.

They are also unlikely to stage a walkout or picket as in other countries as our public medical personnel are just too busy and too tired coping with the ever increasing number of patients in the midst of inadequate facilities and budgets.

When the 2018 Budget is presented in Parliament on Oct 27, I fervently hope these issues would be resolved.

Meanwhile, the Ministry, PSD, Public Services Commission and the chief secretary to the government should initiate serious tripartite discussions to sincerely and honestly discuss this age-old problem and resolve it once and for all.

CONCERNED CITIZEN Kajang