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.
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.
3 comments:
IF it is approved is more accurate...hopefully it will be. Like you said, at least the relevant people are discussing it. I guess we'll just keep our fingers crossed for the time being....
Wahhh.... pittance.....
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