Ko: Medical workers must put patients' interests first

It's paramount for Hong Kong's healthcare workers to maintain professional ethics, stay loyal at their posts and put the interests of patients above everything else at all times, said former secretary for food and health Ko Wing-man.

He said as the city grapples with the threat from deadly infectious diseases like the novel coronavirus pneumonia, all Hong Kong citizens, including those from the medical profession, should unite to fight the epidemic, bearing in mind they cannot afford to sacrifice the interests of patients.

In an interview with China Daily, Ko criticized the recent five-day strike by more 4,000 frontline medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, in an attempt to force the SAR government to order a complete shutdown of cross-boundary checkpoints to curb the spread of the virus.

The stoppage severely affected already strained public hospitals, leaving many critical services disrupted, including the neonatal intensive care unit, as well as radiotherapy and surgeries for cancer patients. In one extreme case, one nurse had to take care of 22 babies in the neonatal ICU as other medical personnel stayed away.

Although the strike was called off last Friday due to lack of support, Ko noted that some workers still failed to show a professional attitude in their duties after returning to work.

Moreover, a nurse association had recently called for industrial action in protest against the shortage of face masks and other protective gear at public hospitals.

Acknowledging the need for protective gear, Ko explained that the Hospital Authority has to regulate consumption and avoid abuse in view of the scarcity of face masks and other protective gear not only in Hong Kong, but in every place in the world.

"Medical personnel should place the interests of patients above everything," said Ko. "They're very important to the integrity of Hong Kong's public healthcare system in battling the epidemic. If they stay away from work, it will seriously hinder the fight against the disease."

The former health chief urged eminent figures in the medical profession to speak up about the importance of safeguarding medical professionalism and their bottom line.

He noted that some medical workers, including prominent doctors, had asked the public to refrain from criticizing healthcare workers for going on strike. He said they should instead ask why healthcare workers are allowed to desert their patients.

On a brighter note, Ko revealed that some zealous people are willing to donate money to the Hospital Authority to reward healthcare personnel who remain dedicated to their work.

“Hospital Authority officials and I have explained to these kind-hearted people that the HA has a mechanism for handling workers neglecting their duties, but it’s difficult to single out the other employees because the HA wants to maintain unity at this moment from the management point of view,” he said.