Dr Lim Suet Wun, chief executive of the National Healthcare Group, expects to finalise details within the next two to three months.

NHG's four hospitals - The National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Alexandra Hospital and the Institute for Mental Health - will then offer dedicated doctors this option.

The idea is to keep experienced doctors within the public system, rather than see the best leave for private practice. Last year, 87 senior specialists left for greener pastures, the biggest such exodus in recorded history.

Both Dr Lim and SingHealth chief Tan Ser Kiat are strongly in favour of keeping good senior doctors - as mentors and teachers, and perhaps also as researchers - to be role models for younger doctors.

Dr Lim said the minister's call to find ways to retain such doctors in the public sector 'has an emotional impact', as he is now making it clear that it matters that doctors stay.

Dr Lim is keen to try out the minister's suggestion, but Professor Tan prefers to continue creating an environment that will encourage these doctors to remain in the public sector, even after they have stepped down as heads of departments.

He is also willing to allow outstanding senior doctors to retain their headships for more than two, or even three terms. Each term lasts three years.

But to prevent younger doctors from feeling that their way up has been blocked, Prof Tan said he creates incentives for them. These can include making them directors of specific areas, encouraging them to excel academically as associate professors, or letting them do research - SingHealth has six clinician-scientists.

A fair number of senior doctors, past the retirement age of 62, still contribute to public hospitals. But Prof Tan will seriously study Mr Khaw's suggestion of letting them set up private clinics within the hospital premises.

Dr Lim is more gung-ho about the scheme and expects to see it implemented with 'a handful of doctors' at each hospital before the year is out.

He dismissed the old argument that a doctor in private practice, with paying patients, would not be able to do justice to a public hospital.

The doctors who will be offered this scheme will be those with good values, who not only possess skill and experience, but are also dedicated and altruistic, he said.

Dr Lim cited the example of respiratory specialist Ong Yong Yau, Singapore General Hospital's former chief executive officer, who was named by Mr Khaw as a doctor 'with strong institutional values... who still believes in the higher calling of public service'.

Dr Lim asked: 'Can you ever envisage him abandoning his subsidised patients?

'If you choose people with the correct values, they will strike the right balance. Integrity is so strong in these people.'

This way, he said, their knowledge and skills remain with the institutions.

And more importantly, he added, it reinforces the value these doctors hold dear: that public hospitals are where they can best contribute in their chosen calling, medicine.

Someone to look up to

PROFESSOR Tan Cheng Lim is 66 and still going strong. True, he relinquished the chairmanship of the paediatric division at KK Women's and Children's Hospital when he was 63. But he has his hands full as the Associate Dean at the National University of Singapore's medical faculty, a three-year appointment which started last year. He helps train undergraduates and housemen, and ensure they get fair treatment when posted to hospitals.

Prof Tan is among a handful of doctors accorded the title Emeritus Consultant. These are the role models hospitals want younger doctors to emulate.

He still sees patients, but spends more time helping younger colleagues. 'The younger generation tends to be in a hurry. They expect rapid promotions,' he reflects.

He recalled an episode in KK Hospital's history when it decided to give a special bonus to the top 10 per cent of doctors. The money was taken from the bonus of the bottom 10 per cent. The remaining 80 per cent received the usual bonus. But the scheme was discontinued soon after as 90 per cent of doctors ended up disgruntled.

Prof Tan's verdict: 'They are too sensitive. Just because they are promoted slower doesn't mean they are not good,' he said.

Wise teacher, good friend

WHEN Professor Foo Keong Tatt stepped down as head of Singapore General Hospital's urology department, he got more than the usual thank-you party. He had a book, published by his peers and students, to honour a 'wise teacher and a good friend'.

At 63, Prof Foo is still putting in a full 5 1/2-day week - seeing patients, teaching students and doing research. When he reached retirement age last year, SGH asked him to stay on and he willingly agreed.

'I enjoy my work. I get satisfaction seeing patients. I love teaching students. I like to know they can pass on the good values. Often, they become better than me,' he said.

He admits readily that age may be slowing him down. 'It is important to know when not to operate. I pass the more complex operations to my younger colleagues. I'm quite happy for my patients, that they are still getting the best, even if I can't give it to them.'

This is what he wants to inculcate in the next generation of doctors: 'In every decision we make, we need to go back to basics - to know the natural progression of disease and to be one step ahead of complications.'

Head of the urology department for 13 years, from 1988 to 2001, he stepped aside for Dr Christopher Cheng, his protege of many years. 'I was happy to hand it over. He can take urology forward.'

This Dr Cheng did by introducing robotic laparoscopy in 2003. SGH is the only centre in the region that offers this advanced technique, Prof Foo proudly announced.