Thanks for sharing your story to us. I just watched Astros movie on healthcare on channel 413 called 'Sicko' by Michael Moore on how America is the only developed country that does not have free national healthcare insurance and feel that we are heading the same horrible way as America where doctors and insurance companies alike are only interested in one thing, profit. Those who do not have enough money either have to suffer or be turned away from hospitals because our insurance does not cover the particular illness or the premium is not high enough. A must see film for those in the healthcare line.

I wonder if we will ever become the same as Europe or UK where healthcare is free for all citizens (already paid for in their taxes) and no one is refused treatment. The doctors only have 1 thing to do, to help each patient recover the best way possible, no matter how rich or poor he is. In fact, there is a cashier counter but the counter does not collect money for the hospital. Rather, it gives money away for those who have travelled to the hospital and reimburses them for their travelling cost eg. taxi or train or bus ticket fee. The more patient he treats, the higher he is compensated by the govt and they get extra incentive if they managed to help more people eg. lower down the smoking rate, obesity etc. An average doctor under the healthcare system stays in a RM3 million dollar house, drives an Audi A8 and earns more than RM600k a year, all these paid by the govt. If you are sick and need 3 months to recover, the doctor gives you a 3 month sick leave and your employer still has to pay you for the time you need to recover. Expecting mothers get close to a year off and is given advise on how to raise their children, a govt nanny comes and help do the laundry for her, cooks as well as takes care of the baby etc & if you are sick you can call a the hospital in the middle of the night to ask the doctor to come to your house for housecall service (free) ... sigh.. we are so far behind in terms of heathcare.

This post has been edited by DannyOP: Nov 18 2008, 03:59 AM

I don't mind paying 20% tax if it eliminates all these problems plus u get top quality free medical service, doctors on free housecall after working hours(eventhough it may be just a stomach ailment of fever), free university education, unemployment benefit etc etc. For EU countries, eventhough the tax is higher, so is the salary. A normal household earns $8000 euros a month after taxes. On average a salaried worker gets 5 weeks of holiday and bigger companies offer 8 weeks of paid holidays per year. If you get married, you get extra 1 week paid leave for your honeymoon. No wonder the life expectancy and quality of life is higher in most developed countries. Well.. for us 2020 perhaps?

What u said is true also.. we do have a small amount of govt clinics available with good doctors just that not many people know about it and it is not enough to cover the whole population.

This post has been edited by DannyOP: Nov 18 2008, 11:50 AM