Update on the Scheme of Service

Efforts to improve the welfare of doctors working in Brunei has long been around. Pensions, On-Call Allowances and Scheme of Services has been the talk of many, but like myself many of us didn't know what was going on in terms of effort done to address these very important issues pertaining our welfare.

From a reliable source eversince 1997 (this might be slightly off) when our then DG proposed for on-call allowances to be implemented, the paperwork has gone through various hands and gone through several revisions until now. Alhamdulillah the final version of the proposal has now been agreed by everyone (Medical & Health services) and in the process of submission for approval to the Jawatankuasa Tanggagaji at JPM. The proposal package now consists of On-call allowances, a new Scheme of Service and 'special allowances' for doctors working in the Ministry of Health.

For everyone's information, prior to the proposal for the revised scheme of service, a proposal for pensions to be returned to the doctors was submitted. Unfortunately the proposal was unsuccessful.

Going back slightly it was since early 2007, Our Minister of Health agreed to form a committee to look into the current scheme of service. The committee is headed by a very senior member of the health ministry and were represented by Hospital doctors, GPs, and Public health to come up with a scheme of service which would be in line with the current international trends, competitive and career progressive. About 2 months ago this committee met with senior representatives from JPM and members of the Jawatankuasa Tanggagaji to discuss the proposal and a few amendments to the proposal was recommended.

Just to highlight some of the challenges that we face are that

1) The number of doctors we produce is still not meeting our demands. As of 2007 our ratio of doctors to population is around 1:900 (that includes ALL the doctors working in the Ministry of Health). Singapore has 1:600 and are still lacking and actively head-hunting qualified doctors to work there. According to OEDC the figure that we should aim for is 1 : 350.

2) The number of doctors leaving the service is increasing. Doctors are highly marketable professionals and continuously poached by agencies with attractive renumerations.

3) Medicine is not an attractive career choice for students. Lengthy undergraduate period, Health-risking career, Stressful & Long-hours of work appeals only to the very few. There are now many other career options that provides a better lifestyle and a better renumeration for the 'cream of the cream'.

In brief the committee want this package to achieve 3 things

1) Attract - Attractive to students to want to do medicine, attractive to qualified experts and doctors to come and work in Brunei.

2) Retain - retention of doctors who are currently working in Brunei to continue working with the Ministry of Health

3) Possess - For the country to possess talented, skillful, knowledgeble Clinicians, GPs, Public health, Scientists, Researchers and propel the quality of health service forward.


Where are we now? This process is certainly not as straightforward as we think. It has to go through to so many levels before approval. Then when approved it will take a while before implementation can take place. How long? I'm not sure if anyone can answer that.. but at least we know that the ball is rolling.. and insyallah hopefully not too long.

Medical Superintendant

Assalamualaikum w. w.

First of all Doctors Mess would like to wish all our muslim readers in welcoming the month of Ramadhan. Hopefully we will all be blessed during this holy month and our 'amal ibadat' be accepted Amin.

Secondly, we'd also like to congratulate Dr Hjh Norlila (ex-CEO of RIPAS) on being promoted as the new Director General in the Ministry of Health. We all wish the best for her, and we'll promise to try and make her life the least miserable as possible...hehe... kidding.. (ops there goes my promotion). We all know it's a very tough and challenging post and we will try to support her as much possible, and I think it's fair to say that the majority of the doctors are very happy with the appointment made so far. All the best to Dr Hjh Norlila and congratulations again.

Now back to business. I'm sure most of us have heard and if not been to the recent meeting that was held between our DG and the RIPAS doctors at the lecture hall in RIPAS Hospital. For those who couldn't make it, the outcome of the meeting was to nominate a medical superintendant.

What would be the task of the medical superintendant? Unfortunately we don't have the official job description yet... however from the talk that our DG gave we gather that the person that will be appointed will be tasked MAINLY to look after the welfare of the doctors working in the medical services. This means he/she will ensure that issues pertaining salary, allowances, housing, and others that is within the realms of welfare for the doctors are taken care of. The medical superintendant is suppose to be the link between the doctors and the DG, and is responsible to ensure that there is minimal delay in addressing these welfare issues. As for promotion, we not sure if the medical superintendant has authority to promote doctors but I'm sure the M.S. can recommend them to the DG.

The DG also conveyed the message that our ministry is seriously looking into this welfare issue and is working very hard to ensure that our welfare is looked after. The ministry would like to make sure our doctors are happy working in Brunei and will continue to stay working here.

The medical superintendant will be chosen from amongst the Local Specialists and will be working directly with DG, thereby bypassing the CEO of RIPAS. And will receive a certain amount of allowances which we are not sure yet of the figure. Apparently this post is not something new. Before there was CEO and Director General, the medical superintendant post had already existed, but after the Ministry of Health was reorganized, the medical superintendant post was replaced with CEO, and since was left vacant until now.

So who has been nominated? That we don't know but we've heard a few names being mentioned several times. Perhaps it's too soon to mention. However that person will have a busy task ahead because as well as performing their responsibility as a medical superintendant, he/she would have to perform their normal clinical duties. Whoever it is we wish them the best. May god mercy on their soul coz these bunch of doctors are quite feisty! Kidding.. ofcourse we are very nice people aren't we ;-) Aammton that includes you, behave yourself!

Next post insyallah we will give an update on the current efforts made by the ministry of health to improve our welfare. This involves On-Call Allowances, proposed salary scale and other allowances. Happy Fasting!