The Hospital Authority has announced a new remuneration package for public doctors, offering higher salaries to those who have joined the body since April 2000.

Authority Chairman Anthony Wu today said the new arrangements will take effect October 1 and will cost an additional $355 million. However, he emphasised that the move will not affect service to patients.

According to the new proposal, specialist doctors' starting salary point will rise from 27 to 30 and their maximum salary point will change from 38 to 44B. Housemen's starting salary point will increase from 12 to 16 while associate consultants' will rise from 40 to 45.

Doctors receiving specialist training will get two additional salary points if they pass the intermediate examination. Two more points will be given to those who pass the final exam. Doctors who serve the authority for two more years after they get the specialist qualification will get another salary point.

A nine-year contract will be introduced to replace the existing three-year contract so that doctors under specialist training will have more employment certainty. Those completing their training and performing well will be offered permanency.

To recognise the work of senior doctors, medical officers involved in training and supervision jobs will have their titles changed to associate consultants or consultants.