Linkage between public sector doctors' assessments and number of non-subsidised patients under their care

13 August 2012

Question No. 610

Name of person: Ms Tin Pei Ling

Question

             To ask the Minister for Health whether public sector doctors' performance assessments or salaries are influenced by the number of non-subsidised or foreign patients under their care.

Answer

            The performance of public sector doctors is assessed holistically based on multiple factors such as their clinical competence, clinical productivity regardless of whether the patients are subsidised or full paying, as well as contributions to teaching, research and administration.  It is not directly influenced by the number of non-subsidised or foreign patients under their care. 

            The pay of specialists is similarly determined by the abovementioned factors.  For specialists performing medical procedures (like surgeons), a portion of their pay is also derived from the professional fees levied directly on full paying patients, both local and foreign.  

            Under the new pay framework for doctors which will be implemented in 2014, doctors will be recognised for their total clinical workload (regardless of patient class), complexity of their clinical work, quality outcomes, as well as contributions to teaching, research and administration.  This will strengthen the alignment of an individual doctor’s rewards with the mission and goals of the public healthcare sector.