HOSPITAL INSTITUTIONAL QUARTERS

Mr S. V. Lingam asked the Minister for Health (a) to give the names of hospitals where there are institutional quarters provided for qualified specialists; and (b) whether he will consider providing such facilities to similar staff of other hospitals where there are no institutional quarters as they may be urgently required in emergencies when on call.

Mr Sia Kah Hui (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, the hospitals where institutional quarters are available are as follows: Outram Road General Hospital 18 Tan Tock Seng Hospital 5 Thomson Road General Hospital 1 Kandang Kerbau Hospital 1 Woodbridge Hospital 6 Trafalgar Home 2 Middleton Hospital 1

It should be noted that institutional quarters are for medical officers and not necessarily for qualified specialists as mentioned by the Member for Aljunied. There is, I understand, no policy at the present regarding the provision of institutional quarters in hospitals, but it is understood that the Economic Planning Unit is studying this question. However, in the allocation of the present available institutional quarters, a points system is in use and some weight is given to those medical officers who are particularly required to stay inside the hospital compound.