MEDICAL SPECIALIST FEES

Inche Ahmad Bin Ibrahim asked the Chief Secretary:

(i) to state the total amount of professional fees earned by each of the following medical specialists: surgeons, ophthalmic surgeon, orthopaedic surgeon, radiologists, ear, nose and throat surgeon, pathologists, physicians and gynaecologists and obstetricians, whether employed by Government or by the University, for each of the years 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956;

(ii) what amount of the fees earned in each case is retained by the medical specialist mentioned above, and what amount is paid to the Government or to the University; and the basis of allocation of those fees.

Mr Goode: Sir, this information is regarded as confidential since it is supplied by the officers concerned on the strict understanding that it is kept confidential. The amount of fees earned to be retained by the officer concerned is governed by Regulation 27 of the Fees (Public Officers) Regulations, 1951 which were published as Council Paper No. 26 of 1954.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Is the Chief Secretary aware that there is great public concern at the fact that it is reputed that some of these specialists earn, with the use of public equipment, specialists' fees in the region of $70,000, $80.000 and $90,000 a year?

Mr Goode: Sir, I am not aware of such public concern.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: If the Chief Secretary knows that these figures are true, would he not be concerned that such fees are being earned with the use of public equipment and public funds?

Mr Goode: No, Sir. I cannot accept the implication that the specialist officers in Government employment earn fees which are out of proportion to their specialist knowledge and skill, or out of proportion to the earnings of the medical profession in private practice.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Is the Chief Secretary aware that, in the case of a large number of local men who are specialists, they were trained to be specialists at enormous public expense?

Mr Speaker: We are getting into a debate. That is not allowed. The hon. Member will have an opportunity, perhaps on the Adjournment or some other occasion, to raise the point.