Pay specialists as much as $18k a month: HM

BUT PROTECT PEOPLE FROM MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Shield from medical malpractice

HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to introduce a salary scheme for doctors and dentists, that will entice more Bruneians to pursue the medical profession, according to the Health Minister.

The scheme could see specialists earning salaries of up to $18,000 a month, Health Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Md Yusof told reporters after a meeting with His Majesty yesterday.

During the meeting at the Ministry of Health, His Majesty said that Brunei needs more local specialists in the health sector and also called on authorities to be more stringent when taking in qualified professionals.

In a titah yesterday, the monarch disclosed an incident in which a patient was diagnosed with brain tumour and died after undergoing surgery.

The patient had been informed by a medical officer or doctor that if he underwent surgery to remove the tumour, he would have an 80 per cent chance of survival compared to a 20 per cent chance of survival without the surgery.

The patient was also assured that after the surgery, he would have "no problem" in regaining consciousness and would also undergo rehabilitation therapy.

"Upon hearing this, the patient's next of kin, a graduate, without serious thought, immediately agreed for her child to undergo surgery. However, unfortunately after two weeks post-operation, the patient remained unconscious and eventually passed away," His Majesty recalled.

"This is a real example."

The question is whether the approach taken by the medical officer was correct or not, the sovereign said.

"Where did (the medical officer) get the (approximation of) 80 per cent? Was it based on research or just a guess?" His Majesty asked.

The monarch also questioned whether such cases were reviewed, investigated or discussed. In other countries, matters relating to possible medical malpractice are not kept under wraps, His Majesty pointed out.

The monarch reminded that a previous titah highlighted that medical doctors should not be "figures who frighten the community" but instead should be their "beacon of hope".

Efforts to produce local specialists need to be given serious attention and should not be neglected, the monarch said in his titah at the meeting, which was attended by members of the royal family, ministers and senior government health officials.

His Majesty said that holders of "ordinary" qualifications should not be quick to settle with such qualifications, but rather continue to upgrade themselves to a specialist level.

"Brunei is waiting for, and in need of, them," His Majesty said.

"With regards quality, it is high time for us to be more careful in evaluating the expertise of personnel recruited into service. It is not enough to base (quality of expertise) on the (person's) qualifications on paper, but also the (individual's) experience and service track record."

The monarch stressed that medical professionals had to be successful in their profession and should not settle for anything less in dealing with their patients.

"They must truly know their patients their ailments and the suitable treatments for these ailments, as well as the risks of administering such treatments.

"All this has to be systematic and intensive, not just simply giving guarantees or predictions as they (doctors and medical officers) please, as what has happened in the past," His Majesty added.

The Brunei Times