23 October 1999

ˇ§Doctors of No Boundaryˇ¨ an epitome of the selflessness of medical profession

(keywords:- MSF, private doctors, humanitarian work, private doctors, concessionary price)

          The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has met with jubilation, though to many a pleasant unexpected surprise. To the health care professionals who have joined the ranks, it is indeed a shot in the arm. To other non-governmental organisations involved in extensive global volunteer work, it is a booster that their work too may one day  be properly and suitably acknowledged.

          The effort of the MSF volunteer health care workers does command our highest praise indeed. Yes, health care workers are destined to serve the sick irrespective of efforts and cost. Furthermore, health care knows no borders -- be it sex, race, creed, religious or political belief. Yet, the environment MSF volunteers have to work in, the amount of work and the complexity of the diseases they have to endure, the setting they have to accommodate to perform their duties is way beyond the ordinary health care workers could imagine.

          Worse, working in disaster area, working in war stricken zone, working in hostile environment, many are exposed to infectious diseases, to  physical maim or even loss of life from mis-directed gunshot or shrapnel to being kidnapped as innocent victims of political bargaining. Few would realise too that each volunteer is supposed to contribute a continuous six-month service in an unaccustomed and foreign land, away from their families and receiving no financial reward.

          In the past four years, some 10 Hong Kong health care workers have joined the MSF medical aid overseas. The number might seem to be small compared to the some 2,000  it recruits worldwide every year. Yet, the involvement of Hong Kong health care professions in the back-up support cannot be belittled.

          There are a few hurdles for active participation in MSF work. The need for involving continuously for six months makes it difficult for public doctors to seek adequate leave, even if an individual is willing to forgo his salary, from their employing institutions for their prolonged absence implies heavier workload on their already over-worked colleagues. For those in private practice, their prolonged absence would be unfair to their faithful patients.

          One way to get round this problem might be to recruit a group of volunteers of the same specialty. Such group will serve for say a period of two years, the length of time for each person to be determined amongst themselves.

          Financial support is essential too for MSF to purchase necessary medication and equipments. The appeal for each health care professional to contribute one dayˇ¦s income is thus to be recommended. This is perhaps the least each doctor, nurse and allied health care member can do to demonstrate their support for their colleagues who work in places where facilities are next to non-existence.

          There has been an erroneous impression that the Hong Kong medical profession are money-minded. Nothing is further from the truth. Yes, blacksheep do exist as in any professions or trades. Yet, most are and have stretched out repeatedly their helping hands, though most have remained as ˇ§unsung heroesˇ¨ in perpetuity. Examples abound. Many private practitioners, be they generalists or specialists, provide free or concessionary priced medical advice and medicine, at the drop of the hat to the old and needy, without remorse, without claiming credit, often with no acknowledgment. Many doctors and dentists work during after hours in charities to provide free treatment to the needy.

          The work of the doctors is always to service, never to attract fanfare. In the same light that the volunteer effort has landed the Nobel Peace Prize to MSF, the humanitarian work of each individual doctor collectively will bring back the dwindling image of the medical profession!

(Hongkong Standard)