Shanghai local state-owned hospitals are facing a talent drain of young doctors and nurses, who go to private hospitals, companies or abroad for better pay.

In Shanghai, new graduates earn about 1,000 yuan (US$120) a month in the first year, for working more than 10 hours every day, according to Friday's Shanghai Daily.

They also take turns on 24-hour shifts. Their job includes writing medical reports after checking the wards. Meager income and severe work load are two of their main reasons for leaving.

"When graduating, a third of students go abroad, a third become medicine salesmen and the rest go to hospitals," said Ji Weiping, director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of the Shanghai Health Bureau.

"After serving for a few years, young doctors leave. They are unable to put up with such a tough but poorly paid job."

Officials said young doctors in internal medicine and TCM are more likely to leave than surgeons, who can get extra pay.

Lu Ye, an official at Yangpu District Central Hospital, said young doctors and nurses always earn the least, because incomes of medical staff are in accordance with years of service, department income, professional title and academic background.

She said her hospital lost about 10 young doctors and Ruijin Hospital lost 200 nurses last year.

"Most of them go to pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals and insurance companies," she said.

With a medical background and working experience, medicine salesmen earn 6,000 yuan to 7,000 yuan a month. Many earn 10,000 yuan or more, she said.

Though hospitals send staff to train in higher-level medical facilities or receive further education in university, the "carrot" policy still fails to be attractive.

Officials said the high pressure of medical practice and severe disputes between doctors and patients are also reasons for young doctors' leave.

"I earned only 1,000 yuan in the first several years," said a gynecologist named Yan. "Even as a director-level doctor, the salary is still about 4,000 yuan.

"I jumped from a city-based hospital to an international pharmaceutical company years ago, serving as the firm's medical expert. The pay is rather satisfactory."

Industry insiders said China's health system is the root cause of the problem.

According to Song Guofan, a Shanghai Health Bureau spokesman, medical charges are not in line with social development and the professional skill and knowledge of medical staff.

(Shanghai Daily June 25, 2004)