Medical care when we were Third World

We are in the First World with an equally advanced medical care industry to match. We have the best medical professionals and the best medical facilities to take care of the sick. We could even extend lives by the quality of our medical professionals.

How far we have come from the days when we were in the Third World, when our medical services and facilities were a far cry from what we have today. But are we better off today than when we were in the past? I will just relate some personal experience to highlight the great differences between then and now for comparison.

In the 50s and 60s, medical care for the citizens was as good as free. Though they were not of the same quality as what we have today, there were good relative to the countries in the region and around the world. I was fortunate to be the recipient of generous dental care provided by the Institute of Health and without having to pay a cent for it, for fillings, extractions and dentures. Every week without failed, a gleaming coach would arrive at the primary school to fetch all the little children who needed dental treatment. A nurse would go from class to class to round up the children and bring them safely to the Institute of Health, not even have to pay for transportation. And the dental surgeons would be there waiting for us, to serve us.

The dental surgeons would plan our next appointments according to our dental needs, at their own initiative, happily without the children paying a cent. If they did not bother, none of the children would bother with the condition of their teeth and would not step near a dental clinic. The govt were the caring parents to the children, meticulously pandering to their dental needs with no concern about cost, about whether the children could afford to pay for them. The govt paid for everything. They did not plan for a long series of treatments for a syndicate to prowl on the poor patients like vultures on a wounded and hapless prey.

The people took care of their small illnesses and cough and colds. The public hospitals provided free medical services as well. Unbelieveable! For those who could afford to pay $15 or $20, a medical doctor would be on call and would drive himself to the homes of the sick, making house calls. If no injection is needed, the medical fee could be lesser, with medicine included.

The people were not underpaying the medical doctors then. With the $15 or $20 collected per patient, to cover medicine, consultation and transportation, the doctors still could live very well. Practically every one of them could afford to live in landed properties and making home visits in their Mercedes Benzes.

When my missus was conceiving our first child, I was then a young officer in the Air Force, I was entitled to A Class Ward in govt hospitals. And for pre natal consultations we had the services of the top gynaecologist in Senior Consultant Christopher Chen, plus delivery. And you would not believe this, everything was free then. I did not have to pay a cent for the regular monthly consultations and delivery of the baby, including meals in the hospitals.

And there was no need to make appointments months or years in advance. There were enough doctors and specialists for everyone. That was the kind of medical services we had then, when we were Third World. No need to buy medical insurance, no need to have medisave account, no need to have Medishield Life, no need to go bankrupt because of medical bills.

I am grateful to the kind of medical benefits that citizens enjoyed then, even as a junior officer in a ministry. Could not have asked for more, could not expect a more caring govt. There was no worry about medical care and affordability and no fear of falling sick. There was no mean testing. There was no one year or two year appointments in govt hospitals. The hospitals were there to serve the people, to make sure the people were healthy, the children were delivered at no cost or little cost for private patients to their happy parents. Come to think of it, those were the good old days, now gone forever.

Are we better off today?

GE2015 – A time to watch who is the devil and who is the saint

Funny to hear that every quarter or party in this coming election is calling for a level playing field, to contest the election in a gentlemanly way, no personal attacks, no hitting below the belt, no abuse of power or unfair advantage by virtue of position, no negative politics. Would we really see this happening?

The only thing that the people can do is to watch what the politicians are doing and saying and to call a spade a spade. The devils must be unmasked to show who they really are and not to allow them to deceive the innocent masses.

In this regard netizens can play a bigger role to expose them. When they talk nonsense, telling lies, distorting facts, etc etc, put a spotlight on them and show their hypocrisies. The social media is there to tell the truth and let the voters judge for themselves.

Silly politicians, opportunists, hypocrites and the wolves in sheepskin will be plenty and the netizens must seize the moment to hantam them.

This is the least netizens can do to help to balance the equation and make the election a fairer election for all parties.

Politicians must not think that the voters are stupid. Doing so will only make a mockery of themselves, to lose the hearts and minds of the people.

Do you trust the PAP?

Yes, yes, I trust the PAP. I also trust all politicians and all the political parties. But I will only vote for the PAP if the following changes are made.

1. Revoke CECA
2. Stop the high influx of foreigners, cap the population at 5.5m allowing organic growth from Singaporean births.
3. Return the Singaporean core and stop foreigners coming in to replace Singaporeans unless no Singaporean can do the job. Do not insult the abilities of Singaporeans and really believe Singaporeans are daft, not better than fakes and cheats.
4. Return my CPF at 55 and allow leaving money in the CPF after 55 on a voluntary basis.
5. The Medishield Life must not be a profit making scheme. Senior citizens should not be made to pay premiums after 65. The scheme should be modified to provide basic healthcare. Better provisions with higher premiums should be voluntary.
6. Stop spending billions or millions on foreign scholarships.
7. Stop destroying the Singaporean core in the university staff and in all industries.
8. Every Singaporean should be allowed to buy HDB flats with priorities given to NSmen.
9. Bring down the cost of living, housing, medical, transport etc
10. Half the ministerial pay.

Ok, no need to add more. 10 items of change will be enough for me to trust the PAP and vote for the PAP.  To trust anyone or party, it must come with positive actions not words and empty promises.

This is just my view. No need to agree with me.

GE2015 – Feeling cheated

Some residents of Pasir Ris GRC are complaining. They are not happy with the SDA contesting in their GRC against the PAP. During the hassling to avoid a 3 corner fight, the opposition parties had agreed to leave Pasir Ris GRC to the SDA led by Desmond Lim. They are angry because they would prefer a stronger party than the SDA. They would prefer SingFirst to stand in Pasir Ris instead. The performance of Desmond Lim in the Punggol East by election was dismal and has affected the image of the Party.  Some of the voters are really very unhappy to have to vote either for PAP or SDA. They are crying for a change, for a better opposition party to contest in Pasir Ris. They felt let down given the choice of voting for the two parties they both rejected.

How serious is this sentiment? By performance and record, SDA under Desmond Lim is indeed the weakest of all the opposition parties. To make matter worse, some are accusing Desmond Lim and SDA as a mole of the PAP. Of course this is not proven. Whether it is true or just an imagination, the unhappiness is there.

There is a cry to be better represented. The people of Pasir Ris want a better opposition party to represent them. Would the party chiefs of the opposition camp heed their plea and call for a review on the Pasir Ris GRC? Would ignoring the cries of the people of Pasir Ris lead to other negative consequences?

The leaders of the opposition parties may want to take a look at this unique development that the voters are rejecting both parties before an election. They may want to walk the ground and gauge the true feelings of the voters there. If there is a case for a change, they may want to do something when there is still time for it. They could put up a join team to replace the SDA or even allow the SingFirst to contest Pasir Ris and talk Desmond Lim and his SDA out of it, or even to ignore the SDA and go for a 3 corner fight.

How appealing is Desmond Lim and his SDA to the voters in Pasir Ris? Is this already a lost cause even before the election has started? How serious is the problem of fielding SDA in Pasir Ris? If it is indeed a gone case for SDA, the big chiefs in the opposition camp may want to do something to show to the people that the opposition camp will not let them down and would not let a good opportunity slips away by default.

Should anything be done about Pasir Ris GRC? Would Desmond Lim and his SDA talk to the people now and have a good feel of the ground and if it is indeed unfavourable, they may want to volunteer to stay out of the GE? Or would SDA put up a really strong team to convince the voters they are serious in representing them?

This is a very unusual development in a GE. There is a perception problem. And if it is that serious, it must not be ignored and let the Pasir Ris voters feel that they had been the sacrificial lamb for opposition unity.

What do you think?

Reform Party’s Dream Team for Ang Mo Kio

I saw a photo of M Ravi canvassing with Roy Ngerng and Kenneth at a hawker centre. And it was reported that Amos Yee was there as well. And so was Han Hui Hui. Kenneth has yet to announce his team but by it would be interesting if Roy and Ravi are  in the short list.

As I was rooting earlier for a combined team with SingFirst, the addition of Jee Say and Ang Yong Guan would make the team quite formidable. Now Reform Party is going to fight it all alone and for Jee Say to back out from the contest, I suspect Kenneth must have given him a peep into his cards and that could have impressed Jee Say to let Reform Party have a crack at Hsien Loong’s steamboat.

Other than Kenneth, Roy and Ravi, who would Kenneth field to strengthen his team? Would the controversial maverick in Amos Yee be added to make it more dramatic? Amos and Roy have their own pulls as victims of the system and could draw a lot of sympathy votes. Ravi as a human rights lawyer has a strong appeal among the young. Kenneth of course has been gaining more credibility with his outspoken pieces on the social ills.

Would the financial expertise of Leong Sze Hian give the team more ballast and weight? Or would Kenneth come up with another big catch to surprise everyone? A team comprising Kenneth, M Ravi, Roy, Leong Sze Hian, Amos Yee and probably Han Hui Hui or another big wig, would be a serious proposition for Ang Mo Kio GRC.  Controversial though, the mix is not a push over and has a lot of appeal to the voters .

Ang Mo Kio GRC is going to be closely watched and full of drama and surprises in this GE. The result is going to be very unpredictable. The sad part is that M Ravi has announced that he would not be using his $1m war chest as he would not be running. Leong is still very mum and not saying anything. And in the case of Amos, he is still underage and would not qualify to stand. There will be no Dream Team.

What is Kenneth’s game plan? He better comes up with a good team after Jee Say had graciously gave way to his Reform Party. If he is unable to present a good and credible choice to the voters, this would be his last call and no one would take him seriously anymore. He is given a chance to take Ang Mo Kio. If he can’t do a good job, the voters would be very disappointed with him and his Party. He would be blamed for spoiling the chance of SingFirst to put up a good fight. This is the least expected from Kenneth and not rising up to the challenge is inexcusable.

The ball is now in Kenneth’s court. Any opposition party that is given a chance to fight a straight battle but not putting up a decent team and expect the voters to blindly vote for them is a sign of naiveity and incompetence, and the voters are going to be very suspicious of their intent. They will not have a chance to be back in the next GE. They will be dumped for good. 

When the people are desperately looking for change, do not be a spoiler. You will not be forgiven.