HK need spurs medical milestone

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong may be known for his oft-mentioned high IQ of 160. However, his mission to recruit a thousand mainlanders to care for elderly affected by Omicron has been miserably way off target.

Failing to fill up the posts would leave some Covid facilities seriously understaffed and affect the overall effectiveness of government contingency responses to the Omicron crisis as each contingency consists of multiple parts tied to each other.

Law's bureau has been tasked to recruit 1,000 temporary carers to look after elderly residents at isolation and treatment facilities.

It has been given a generous budget to offer each recruit HK$30,000 a month - a wage way higher than the average sum carers at elderly homes currently get.

Unexpectedly, the response has been lukewarm and only 180 mainlanders have been hired. More may be coming - but it is still a big "may."

Perhaps Law should find out why the mainlanders are not interested in the HK$30,000 a month offer.

Could it be due to personal concern because of the risky job nature? Or could it be because the recruits may not actually pocket that much if their hiring is carried out via recruitment or other agencies that charge the workers fees deductible from their earnings?

In contrast, local applicants have shown greater interest in the offered wage, with Chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor earlier noting an increase in the number of applications from local carers.

Nonetheless, it is paramount for Law to accomplish the mission to fill up the budgeted vacancies since failing to achieve this would see the government emergency responses riddled with inadequacies.

Facilities must be manned one way or another.

As a stop-gap measure, policymakers may need to get creative. For example, could they review the ordinance to allow domestic helpers currently in the SAR to apply for these caring roles if their employers agree?

Many people work from home these days and some may wish their helpers take up a job elsewhere for the short term so that, while their helpers earn more, they can also cut down on household expenses. This would make everyone a winner.

The pandemic threat has given rise to an unprecedented situation in which policymakers should be bolder in trying solutions that would have been too controversial to attempt in other times.

Hong Kong is short of not only carers but also medical staff -the shortage is so acute that a doctor overwhelmed by the workload broke down in tears before the cameras.

It may be controversial but it is justified for the government to allow mainland-trained doctors and nurses to run certain designated treatment facilities, despite some questions.

In the face of a serious lack of manpower, it is better to have some reinforcement than none at all.

It is important to note that the government has insisted this is only a temporary arrangement.

Looking forward, if the emigration trend persists and the loss of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals continues, it may be necessary to review the relevant policy.

The participation of the mainland medics at present may offer useful reference for future reviews.