It is interesting to note that the current woes of Dr Lin are still very much the same as what I and my colleagues complained about when we were junior officers.

However our conditions were comparatively much worse. Nevertheless, we enjoyed ourselves as junior officers in the medical service knowing well that is the best period to develop a good foundation to be a good doctor in the future.

It was just in 1991 when I started as a houseman. Knowing very well that the Kuching Hospital was short of doctors (you could say the most understaffed in Malaysia at that time), I opted to go there for my first training.

We also knew they were good consultants there to guide and train us. As a houseman, being on call for 15 days a month is not uncommon. Even being continuously on call is a norm. And imagine that back then, there wasn't even on call allowance!

But we relished performing our duty to our patients, knowing very well that it will also benefit us.

At that time they were only three compulsory postings (to the medical departments) but we clamoured for two more compulsory postings (which are in place now) as we felt inadequate when serving our patients without rotating through the five major postings.

In the US, junior medical officers start their rounds as early as 5.30am before being joined by the more senior officers for even more rounds. Their normal day routine does not end until 7 or 8pm.

Medicine is unlike any other profession. The wards are both a place for us to learn and acquire skills and also a place to serve our patients.

The Health Ministry (MOH) may realise that complaints from its doctors are always the same but ultimately, to me, service to the people is of the utmost importance.

I am not siding with the MOH as I am already in private practice after serving my dues for more than 10 years. But now, even after the government providing on call allowances and others, there there are still complaints.

Dr Lin will realise that what he faces now is lights years ahead of what we faced. And that was only as recent as 10 years ago. The MOH has done a lot to improve our working conditions and salary.

Some of this was made possible through our constant discussions with the MOH through the Schomos (Section Concerning HOs and MOs) section of Malaysian Medical Association.