69-year old retiree can’t afford $154 vaccination
November 14th, 2013 | Author: Contributions
I am a 69-year-old retiree who recently had to walk away from medical treatment at a polyclinic because I simply could not afford the fee. It was a Hepatitis A vaccination that was recommended by an SGH doctor (I honestly don’t know why SGH couldn’t do it!) I found that it cost $77 per dose, and they had to administer two doses, amounting to $154. There was no subsidy, said the nurse. Not even for senior citizens. Not even for someone holding an MSW (Medical Social Worker) letter. Even the doctor, who was at first hesitant because he was merely responding to a brief note from the SGH physician, asking him to administer the shot, nodded to show empathy for the circumstances I was in and cognizance of Singapore’s high cost of living. And to think citizens are allowed the use of Medisave for Hepatitis B vaccination, but not A. Sadly, I walked away, wondering why Singaporeans — especially the elderly lot — had to be subjected to such deprivation of basic medical assistance when our Medifund kitty had a surplus of more than $600 million, according to statistics revealed by our trusted Mr Leong Tze Hian, an auditor, Wharton Fellow and alumnus of Harvard University and the United Nations University International Leadership Academy, in TRE pages recently. Even the MSW letter I was holding entitles me to waiver of only some of the drugs prescribed by the doctor, not all. And even then, the waiver is granted only after Medisave deduction. In other words, the 100% waiver indicated in the letter is a big ruse. Why, in heavens name, must they always resort to non-transparency in many things they do involving our own true-blue citizens? Even untruthfulness, indifference and apathy? Why can’t they come clean and say why, for instance, medicines must cost so much. If it is true that medicines are so expensive, why is it cheaper across the Causeway? Last year, I was at one stage suffering from flu. And despite four medical consultations — including one where I paid $40, I was still feeling lousy. So I went to see a private clinic doctor in JB. The female Muslim doctor (she was wearing a hijab by the way, which I’m 100% fine) asked me my age and occupation. And when she found I was a retiree, she charged me only RM10 ($4) for consultation and five different medications. Amazing, I thought! And believe you me, it took me only one week to recover, thanks to that JB doctor, who charged me $4!
Sad and bewildered
Bamboo Innovator 