A Poor Doctor's letter entitled Doctors should quit griping and get on with their job was published recently in response to my earlier letter . I have been waiting and anticipating for such a response. Call me a skeptic but I knew there would be somebody out there who would disagree with my suggestions.

Being a doctor is a noble profession but we must not forget that we are all human. Aren't doctors entitled to demand their basic human rights? The writer is entitled to his own opinion with regards to my letter.

However, just because he has become a specialist, there is no need to put down efforts by house officers and junior medical officers to voice out their problems pertaining to their positions. There has to be somebody fighting and demanding for change at every level in this profession.

I particularly disagree with the writer's statement that '... after medical students become doctors, they complain of ... Everything except wanting to see their patients more'.

In my opinion, this type of mentality is the kind that keeps our profession from moving forward. Many of our superiors are still stuck with the impression that new doctors have to suffer the way they suffered.

When a person voices out dissatisfaction about working conditions, it does not mean that they do not care about the patient. As matter of fact, improving the system will not just benefit doctors but patients as well in the long run. Maybe the writer cannot visualise this.

It is my opinion that we government doctors should try to come together, regardless of status and seniority and decide collectively on issues that matter to each of us. We could produce a list that details issues that we would like our Health Ministry to address.

There is no need to fight and bicker about who's plight is more important. And I don't think the ministry would feel more inclined to listen to an individual complaint.

I personally feel that as government doctors, we all generally agree that:

• the welfare of doctors could and should be improved;