Doctors should give priority to duty

Doctors should give priority to serving the people and not be solely motivated by financial success, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
They should find in themselves the compassion and selfless servitude for their communities and strike a balance between material prosperity and sense of duty, he said.
He said there was an unfortunate trend today towards over-emphasis in the quest for material success instead of the duties and obligations as medical practitioners.
“The only thing that ever matters, it now seems, is the question of dollars and cents,” he said in a speech read out by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek at the opening of the 26th Asian Medical Students Conference here yesterday.
The eight-day conference, which began on Sunday, is attended by 500 medical students from 14 countries.
Its theme is Technology in Medicine - Embracing the Progress, Serving the People.
Najib said he found it alarming that doctors left government service and even their home countries to seek work in greener pastures.
“Governments today realise that they must also do their share to keep good talents at home,” he said.
Malaysia, he said, like many other Asian countries, had moved to enhance remuneration packages for doctors and provide incentives to get home-grown doctors practising in other countries to return home to serve.
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