OPINION: Pioneer Generation Card is overhyped

Hardwarezone Forum, 17 Sep 2014
Pap gov even did a tranny tv ad to praise the PG card everyday. I thought it really will help the pioneer generation cope with the medical cost. But when I saw my mum's medical bill for her regular checkup at poly clinic, I realize the card is overhyped.
Her medical bill is around $76. The PG card only gives her a miserable discount of $3.20, less than 5% discount. My mum told me the pg card only cover the consultation fee, not the prescription.


Full story

78-year-old granny forced to sleep along the corridor at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for 2 nights

Facebook.com

My 78 years old Grandma (mother's mother) was just admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital on 2 August 2014 (Saturday) around 11 am to A&E due to having fallen down and unable to walk.
She was given X-ray and found out that she got a crack at her hip plate. However she will need to undergo treatment and she will need to stay at the hospital.
Initially we were told there was not enough patients wards when we ask for a ward B2 type and later on we received a SMS from the hospital on her bed and ward number.
Here is where the problem start; when my uncle went down at night 9pm to visit and pass her some of her stuffs like jackets and her favor mug, he was not happy that she was placed at the corridor in front of the nurse counter, instead of a ward.
He was told that there was NO available ward or room for her, and so she had to sleep at the corridor of the B1 type ward. Why is this happening when the hospital send us an sms of her ward and bed number, but she is to sleep at the corridor, where every other patients' family and relatives, and nurse are all passing by. Full story

OPINION: Dr Janil Puthucheary makes complete nonsense on Medishield

Trulysingapore.wordpress.com, 11 Jun 2014
Janil Puthucheary made complete nonsense when he asserted that it is not valid to compare Medishield’s 63% loss ratio (payout) against American health insurance’s 80 to 85% loss ratio (payout) because Medishield is public and not-for-profit whereas US medical insurance is private and for-profit scheme. Any idiot will know that all else being equal, America’s for-profit scheme should end up with a lower payout while Singapore’s supposedly not-for-profit scheme should end up with a higher payout but the reality is the other way around.
Dr Puthucheary warned that Medishield will become insolvent if payouts are more than premiums collected. But that didn’t address Mr Gerald Giam’s concern about low Medishield payout when Medishield capital adequacy ratio was already 40% above MAS requirements. Does Dr Puthucheary know that the targeted capital adequacy ratio is 200%?
Both he and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong argued that it is very difficult to estimate health-care costs. In that case, how does Minister Gan come up with a Health Ministry budget every year? Full story

LETTER: Changi General Hospital told 73-year-old man the waiting time for check-up is 1 year

Sammyboy.com, 12 May 2014
I AM a 73-year-old Singaporean. Late last month, I went to the polyclinic for my usual check-up.
I asked the doctor to refer me to Changi General Hospital as I also had a slight backache.
The earliest appointment date Changi General Hospital has available is some time next year. I find this extremely unacceptable, especially since I live near the hospital.
I then asked to be referred to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, which gave me an appointment in July, which is reasonable.
What I don't understand is the long waiting time to see a doctor at Changi General Hospital. An old man waiting nearly a year to see a doctor - is this acceptable?
Tan Boon Hai

Link

Singapore hospitals already facing severe bed crunch, yet Indian politicians are being encouraged to seek medical treatment here

One India, 28 Feb 2014
Kannada ace actor and Housing Minister of Karnataka Government Rebel Star Ambareesh is likely to go to Singapore for further treatment. Last week (on Feb 21), the actor was rushed to Vikram hospital in Bangalore after he suffered from severe chest pain and breathing problem.
If sources are to be believed then Ambareesh is flying to Singapore on advise of his close friend and Tamil superstar Rajinikanth. Rajini, who visited Ambareesh in Vikram hospital, has suggested his family members to take him to Singapore for further treatment. Full story

Related:
Hospitals facing severe bed crunch take unusual steps - Straits Times

OPINION: Paying For The Rest Of Our Lives

Singapore Notes, 5 Feb 2014
Since April 1984, the national medical savings scheme mandates that every employee contributes 7% - 9.5% (depending on age group) of his monthly salary to a personal Medisave account. Compulsory savings which are allowed to be withdrawn only to pay the hospital bills of the account holder and his immediate family members. Savings which are deducted from his own hard earned wages. Semantics aside, co-payment and Medisave mean the same thing - you pay your medical bills out of your own pockets.
When Gan said that, under the new Medishield Life scam, patients' share of big hospital bills will go down from what they have to pay now, what he means is that the Medisave portion is going up. This is confirmed by the next line, where he promises "Medisave contributions will have to go up at an opportune time". This is on top of what all of us, including Han Fook Kwang the Lee Kuan Yew apologist, experienced early this year when we were advised of the hike in Medishield premiums for existing coverage plans. This bears repeating: Medisave monies come from our own pockets. Not from the national budget allocated for public health or welfare. Full story

OPINION: Will Health Minister Gan Kim Yong reveal the population size target he uses to decide on adding 10,000 more hospital beds in 2020

Facebook/TanJeeSay, 27 Jan 2014
Minister Gan must tell us what is the population size that he has used for the year 2020 when deciding to build 10,000 more beds by 2020. Is this population figure in line with the Population White Paper approved by Parliament in early 2013? What would be the expected number of beds per 10,000 population when the additional 10,000 beds are put in place by end 2020?
Let us work out the numbers in case the minister is not promptly forthcoming…………. The number of beds per 10,000 population will then be 36 which is not even two thirds of First World norm.
Does this mean that Singaporeans will continue to see their loved ones lying on beds in hospital corridors and make-shift tents in the years ahead? We can avoid this Third World situation either by increasing the number of beds sharply to around 35,000 beds by 2020 or reducing the total population appropriately, or doing both at a slower pace or in ways that do not degrade the quality of public service. That is why it is vitally important for Singaporeans to oppose the Population White Paper unless adequate public facilities in essential services are put in place. And all the working numbers …. must clearly be shown to the people. That’s what we expect of a responsible and transparent government.” Full story

Doctors raise the red flag on young children using tablets

CBS Baltimore, 14 Nov 2013
Tablets and toddlers: A warning for parents of tech-savvy children. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children under two should avoid all screen time.
Jessica Kartalija reports doctors and therapists fear too much time on touchscreens could cause long-term damage.
Playtime for babies is far different in the 21st century. But parents could be making a big mistake putting touchscreens in the hands of toddlers and young children. Full story

Singapore hospitals charge additional $15 fee to ensure the right baby is delivered to the parents

The Real Singapore, 9 Oct 2013

I refer to the newspaper article on the Chinese newspaper today (above pic).
Reporting 'Live' from Uniquely Singapore, after many surveys done by the government, an excellent plan was pushed out today, now, Mothers can ensure they carry the RIGHT baby, just by paying only an additional $15!
This scheme is the world's First, as no other hospital in the world, goes the extra mile of ensuring a mother carries the correct baby.
The PAP government has the welfare of the people in their hearts, after all, $15 is better than a lifetime of raising a wrong baby!
This scheme further strengthens the island dictatorship's, sorry, island state's world standing in healthcare, which also includes $8 heart bypasses, and also sending of elderly to old folks home in JB.
This move garnered huge praises from PAP supporters, who said that the Opposition would never do such a thing.
PAP supporters also suggested that the government should consider implementing similar schemes, like maybe asking the public to "paying additional $15 to ensure the Police go catch the correct thief".
Link

Will Singapore mortuary also charge additional $15 fee to ensure the right body is delivered to the family of the deceased?

Health Alert: Patrons complain of odd-smelling, yellowish tap water at Raffles City eateries

Stomp.com.sg, 7 Oct 2013
Patrons of food outlets at Raffles City complained of an odd-smelling liquid that looked yellowish as well as cloudy yesterday (Oct 6), and were served with bottled water instead.
On the ground floor, restaurants Brotzeit, Marche and Salt Tapas & Bar were all affected, reports an article on The Straits Times.
"We opened for breakfast this morning, and the water was slightly cloudy and it tasted off," said Ms Haida Hanim, a manager at German restaurant Brotzeit. Full story

Health Alert: Singapore Reports Chalmydiosis in Imported Parrot

The Poultry Site, 29 Aug 2013
SINGAPORE - A recently imported pet parrot has died as the result of chlamydiosis, an infection that can also affect people and poultry species.
The veterinary authorities in Singapore sent an Immediate Notification dated 29 August to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
The report covers the first occurrence in the country of Chlamydophila psittaci. It was in an Amazon parrot, which showed signs of illness on 21 July. The bird belonged to a private owner who kept two other birds - a macaw and a lovebird - which were subsequently found not to be infected. Full story

OPINION: Healthcare Financing: Tweaks or Tricks?

Singapore Armchair Critic, 19 Aug 2013
While the healthcare changes outlined in the NDR speech sound reasonable, it is hard to say if the individual’s out-of-pocket healthcare expenses will actually be reduced till the finer details are confirmed.
As of now, the Medisave withdrawal limit for each premium (Medishield and Integrated Shield Plan) is up to $800 per insured person per policy year, and any sum above $800 has to be paid out-of-pocket.
How will the increased premiums under Medishield Life be funded?
PM Lee said that the state will spend more on healthcare. But he also said that the Medisave contribution rate will be raised. Full story

Man fainted from excessive blood loss after waiting 7 hours at Changi Hospital A&E

Stomp.com.sg, 17 Aug 2013
The STOMPer wrote:
"My friend, Lim, in his thirties, suffered a workplace-related accident on Aug 7, at around 11.30am.
"He had fallen down and his right forearm sustained a gash of approximately 8cm length due to a cut from a steel bar.
"His co-workers immediately rushed him to the CGH and they arrived at the Accidents & Emergency department at around noon.
"The staff nurses were quick to administer basic wound dressing and bandage to his wounds, and also an intravenous drip was also given to him.
"However, even at 3pm, they were told by nurses that doctor was unavailable.
"Every time they asked for a doctor, the nurses would reply the doctor will 'attend to them in half an hour'.
"To their horror, the doctor still hadn't come and performed the stitching operation even at 5pm, and the nurses could only 'top up' the bandages when the blood seeped through the dressing.
"It was only at 7pm, when Lim said he was feeling faint and going to pass out, that a doctor finally came.
"To their shock, the doctor said there were still four patients waiting in line, and that Lim would have to wait until midnight before he could perform the operation on him.
"Worse still, the doctor even said that he might have to wait until the next morning. Full story

Related:
Burma’s Tallest Man Flies to Singapore for Surgery - The Irrawaddy

Evidence found in China that new bird flu strain can spread between humans

Telegraph.co.uk, 7 Aug 2013
The new bird flu strain, known as H7N9, was first reported by Chinese authorities in March. As of the end of May, there were 132 cases and 37 deaths in China and Taiwan linked to the virus.
Health officials suspect patients were most likely infected by birds in live animal markets but acknowledged there were probably sporadic cases of the virus spreading among humans.
In the new study, Chinese researchers interviewed the family and close friends of a father and daughter both killed by H7N9 in eastern China to figure out how the virus might have spread between them. Full story

Critics Warn Pacific Pact Could Jack Up Drug Costs

IPSNews.net, 16 Jul 2013
As a new round of talks behind a major proposed free trade area, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), get underway this week, the United States is pushing several developing countries to accept provisions that critics say would make it more difficult for their citizens to access medicine.
“The concern about access to medicine, and that the TPP deal will lead to high health-care costs, is huge,” Arthur Stamoulis, executive director of Citizens Trade Campaign, a fair trade advocacy group based here, told IPS. Full story

Singapore dengue epidemic crosses 12,000 cases, Vivian Balakrishnan says situation will get worse before it gets better

The Global Dispatch, 7 Jul 2013
With the number of dengue fever cases at 12,308, as of July 7, Singapore is experiencing its largest epidemic of the mosquito borne viral disease in eight years.
To date, there has been three deaths due to locally acquired dengue and a fourth in a foreign national, according to a Singapore Ministry of Health news release in late June.
Singapore had the worst dengue epidemic in 2005, when about 14, 000 people were infected, with 25 deaths. Full story



Related:
Balakrishnan warns situation will get worse before it gets better - Today Online

As NEA is preoccupied squabbling with AHPETC and bloggers, Singapore witnessed its 3rd dengue death in five weeks

The Real Singapore, 25 Jun 2013
Yesterday, dengue claimed it's third life with the death of an 86 year old man who lived in the Sembawang Road area.
This is the third death to happen within 5 weeks.
A joint statement by the Ministry of Health and the National Environment Agency says that the man was treated at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) after visiting the emergency department with fever. Full story

Related:
Singapore reports third death from dengue this year - Xinhua

Also read:
NEA very free – after quarrel with AHPETC, now quarrel with bloggers - TR Emeritus

Long queues of frustrated customers seen at pharmacies island-wide as N95 masks faces supply crunch

Where are the 9 million N95 masks mentioned by Vivian Balakrishnan?  Why haven't we seen Health Minister Gan Kim Yong?

Stomp.com.sg, 22 Jun 2013
STOMPers reported crowds at NTUC Tampines Mall, Guardian Pharmacy at Tampines MRT station, and the Unity outlet at Pasir Ris White Sands as people stood in line for N95 masks.
It was previously reported that there were long queues of people waiting outside pharmacies and retail shops in vain for new stock to arrive, as N95 masks had gone out of stock islandwide.
STOMPer Titus wrote:
"At NTUC Tampines Mall, queuing for the N95 mask.
"There is a terribly long queue here.
"I just wish the authorities could see what is happening and the mad rush for the item.
"I was at the Guardian Pharmacy, Tampines MRT branch, but there was a message that the masks have not been delivered.
"Really, ridiculous situation." Full story

Weekly number of Dengue cases in Singapore hits record high

Xinhua, 4 Jun 2013
SINGAPORE, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The weekly number of new dengue cases reported in Singapore surged to an all time high over the seven days from May 26 to June 1, according to statistics from the city state's ministry of health released Tuesday.
There were 756 infections reported in the week, which is 43 more than the previous peak in September 2005 during the worst dengue epidemic in Singapore. About 14,000 people were infected in 2005, with 25 deaths reported.
By the noon of June 4, a total of 8,632 infections have been reported this year, despite efforts by authorities and the communities to carry out campaigns aimed to wipe out mosquitoes. Full story

Related:
PAP MP Teo Ho Pin blames the birds for mosquito breeding in Singapore - Hardwarezone Forum

Singapore set for worst dengue epidemic since 2005

News.com.au, 31 May 2013
SINGAPORE is bracing itself for its worst ever dengue epidemic with infections this year already exceeding the total for all of 2012, official statistics show.
The first fatality of the year, a 20-year-old man, died on Wednesday in the city-state, which is known for fastidious sanitation but is facing a spike in the breeding of the Aedes mosquito that transmits the disease.
More than 7,700 people were infected as of May 25 in Singapore, compared to 4,632 in all of 2012, according to data from the health ministry. Full story