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Optometrists hope pay demand opens HA's eyes to their plight
Optometrists are part of the crusade for more pay. Two optometrist groups, fighting for higher pay for the past six years, demanded yesterday that the Hospital Authority raise their salaries to be on par with those of nurses offered increases averaging more than 15 percent this month.
The optometrists claimed that, under the current HA system, the starting pay of registered optometrists is the lowest among all primary health-care providers with bachelor's degrees, such as nurses and pharmacists.
``The authority is treating optometrists as if they're certificate holders,'' said Rufina Chan Tin-yan, president of the Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists. ``It has been 13 years since Hong Kong Polytechnic University upgraded its optometry course to bachelor's degree level. The current pay scale shows disrespect for our profession.''
HA optometrist Kelvin Fung Kin-man added: ``We're demanding a starting salary that's at least comparable to that of nurses, from point 13 to 16, which should be HK$21,160.''
The optometrists said their voices are being ignored because there are only 26 of them working with the authority.
``Traditionally, optometrists in Hong Kong are seen as those selling contact lenses and glasses,'' said George Woo, president-elect of the World Council of Optometry. ``But they can also diagnose ophthalmological conditions. The HA is not allowing optometrists to do what they have studied to do. They should let optometrists be the gatekeepers - diagnosing - while ophthalmologists treat the illnesses.''
The groups also demanded they be allowed to refer patients to ophthalmologists.
``Right now, patients need referrals from general practitioners or private doctors,'' Chan said. ``But doctors might have received only two weeks of training in ophthalmology. Sometimes, they have to seek help from optometrists on writing referrals. This creates treatment delays.'' |
