May is just around the corner. Please recall that “Doctor’s Day in May” is a concept whereby we ask doctors to consider giving a day’s pay (or part thereof) just once a year to support medical training in developing world countries. That is like giving 1/2 of 1% of your salary once a year. This money goes a very long way in countries where medical services are far less expensive than in Australia.
It is a good time to reflect upon our great good fortune to be working as doctors in Australia rather than in many other countries in the world. In some countries just going to work can be a life-risking exercise as illustrated in this headline from the New York Times just 1 week ago.
“Sudanese paramilitaries killed the entire staff (9 people) of the last medical clinic in a famine-stricken camp in the western region of Darfur”.
In quite a few countries the remuneration for being a doctor is certainly nothing special. For example in Cuba, medical salaries doubled about a year ago. They are now about $US 16,000 per annum.
Also thankfully, unlike in the USA, we generally do not have the endless red tape surrounding the procurement of certain tests and treatments in order to treat our patients appropriately. Imagine the frustration and hassle!
Please consider your donation to Twice the Doctor while reflecting on this good fortune in practising our chosen profession in this country.