Dear Editor – Whilst not siding with any parties regarding issues debated by Grant David (Sunday Star 19 October 2014) on above I am obliged to state the truth.
The 23 Malaysian doctors stated by David and that they were invited by Dr Rodgers were both incorrect.
They were Filipino doctors. They were not invited by Dr Rodgers as alleged.
The truth is despite the advice and reservation of the then Permanent Secretary at that time, the mass recruitment was based on political decisions, born out of political connections with a neighbouring country that led to a Cabinet decision and directive for engagement of the Filipino doctors, mass recruitment politically meaning well to fill most of vacant positions in the country.
Since the then Permanent Secretary had reservations on the idea, it unfortunately fell on Dr Rodgers as Undersecretary for Health Care, responsible for doctor recruitment to carry out that political directive whether he liked it or not.
This he did with the help of the World Health Organization in the selection of the Filipino doctors.
The doctors were not ‘hoax’ but a few had shortcomings to immediately fit into our medical practice system and to meet high expectations of our public.
Soon people complained and immediately the public media went into a frenzy that had made the working environment very difficult, even for the good experienced Filipino doctors to work.
So understandably all Filipino doctors decided themselves to resign and return home. This they did and were repatriated.
How did I know the above as the truth?
I was the then Permanent Secretary. They were Filipino doctors and were mass employed by political decision and directive of our then government.
N. Kere
Ranadi
