I REFER to the commentary by Dr Lee Wei Ling, "Medicine is not just a career, but a calling" (The Sunday Times, Dec 7).

It was a great article, and I would like to commend Dr Lee for emphasising that medicine is not solely a prestigious, profitable career, but is also a calling.

In this day and age, I wonder how many in the medical profession would be altruistic enough to put their patients' welfare before their own.

There are doctors who have no qualms about overcharging patients.

I agree with Dr Lee that the most important quality a doctor should have is empathy.

As Singapore becomes a medical hub, compassion is an essential quality that doctors should have.

A good doctor is not a professional who is out to make money from patients, but one who is empathetic and compassionate when treating them.

A doctor's income must be balanced with the passion and enthusiasm to serve.

As Dr Lee said in her article, the biggest challenge facing medical professionals in Singapore today is a struggle between doing the best for patients and adopting a cold, calculating attitude whereby a doctor seeks to profit from as many patients as possible.

I hope there is a fair system of setting medical fees so that doctors earn what they deserve, but do not profit too much from patients.

Mr Sebastian Tan

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