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United Daily News / Reporter Wang Ruiling / 2006/11/17
Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital has reduced the salaries of Chinese medicine physicians by 50%. Yesterday at noon, four department heads from the Chinese Medicine Department collectively resigned to the board of directors. Liu Jingsheng, the head of the Chinese Medicine Department, emphasized that they felt "disrespected and manipulated." The four will continue to see patients until January 16 of the following year to ensure patient care.
The four department heads include Liu Jingsheng, head of the Chinese Medicine Department; Wu Jingchong, head of Internal Medicine; Hu Wenlong, head of Acupuncture; and Zhang Zhihao, head of Gynecology and Pediatrics. In response, Liu Jingkuan, vice president of Kaohsiung Medical University, stressed that communication will continue, and he guarantees that the Chinese Medicine Department will not close and patient rights will not be affected.
The Chinese Medicine Department at Kaohsiung Medical University began operations in September 2003, including departments such as Internal Medicine, Gynecology and Pediatrics, Acupuncture, and Traumatology, with a total of 7 physicians, 6 pharmacists, and 8 nursing staff. With the resignation of the four department heads, the Chinese Medicine Department is left "without leadership."
Liu Jingsheng believes that over the past three years, the Chinese Medicine Department has experienced both profits and losses. However, since January of this year, the hospital increased the registration fee from 100 to 150 NTD, which is more expensive than other hospitals, causing patients to hesitate and resulting in a monthly loss of 3.5 to 4 million NTD in revenue for the department, leading to severe losses.
Instead of reviewing management practices, the hospital indirectly reduced the physicians' commission (consultation fee) from 60% to 30%, effectively cutting their salaries by 50% to compensate for the department's losses.
The four physicians stated that Kaohsiung Medical University is a privately-run hospital by a corporation, which disregards physician rights by reducing salaries. "Since they do not care about the existence of the Chinese Medicine Department and have no intention of developing Chinese medicine, they should not hold the false reputation of being a teaching hospital for Chinese medicine. Otherwise, it is a deception."
Vice President Liu Jingkuan of Kaohsiung Medical University said that according to the contract, the hospital could adjust the salary structure after 19 months, but it was delayed until the third year, showing the utmost sincerity. He expressed regret over the resignation of the four physicians and stated that communication will continue. Regardless of the future, patient rights will not be affected.
Source: United News Network, 2006/11/17
Kaohsiung Medical University Pay Cuts Prompt Resignation of 4 TCM Department Heads
Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital has reduced the salaries of Chinese medicine physicians by 50%. Yesterday at noon, four department heads from the Chinese Medicine Department collectively resigned to the board of directors. Liu Jingsheng, the head of the Chinese Medicine Department, emphasized that they felt "disrespected and manipulated." The four will continue to see patients until January 16 of the following year to ensure patient care.
The four department heads include Liu Jingsheng, head of the Chinese Medicine Department; Wu Jingchong, head of Internal Medicine; Hu Wenlong, head of Acupuncture; and Zhang Zhihao, head of Gynecology and Pediatrics. In response, Liu Jingkuan, vice president of Kaohsiung Medical University, stressed that communication will continue, and he guarantees that the Chinese Medicine Department will not close and patient rights will not be affected.
The Chinese Medicine Department at Kaohsiung Medical University began operations in September 2003, including departments such as Internal Medicine, Gynecology and Pediatrics, Acupuncture, and Traumatology, with a total of 7 physicians, 6 pharmacists, and 8 nursing staff. With the resignation of the four department heads, the Chinese Medicine Department is left "without leadership."
Liu Jingsheng believes that over the past three years, the Chinese Medicine Department has experienced both profits and losses. However, since January of this year, the hospital increased the registration fee from 100 to 150 NTD, which is more expensive than other hospitals, causing patients to hesitate and resulting in a monthly loss of 3.5 to 4 million NTD in revenue for the department, leading to severe losses.
Instead of reviewing management practices, the hospital indirectly reduced the physicians' commission (consultation fee) from 60% to 30%, effectively cutting their salaries by 50% to compensate for the department's losses.
The four physicians stated that Kaohsiung Medical University is a privately-run hospital by a corporation, which disregards physician rights by reducing salaries. "Since they do not care about the existence of the Chinese Medicine Department and have no intention of developing Chinese medicine, they should not hold the false reputation of being a teaching hospital for Chinese medicine. Otherwise, it is a deception."
Vice President Liu Jingkuan of Kaohsiung Medical University said that according to the contract, the hospital could adjust the salary structure after 19 months, but it was delayed until the third year, showing the utmost sincerity. He expressed regret over the resignation of the four physicians and stated that communication will continue. Regardless of the future, patient rights will not be affected.
Source: United News Network, 2006/11/17