The Polyclinic

Today, I had my first experience as a patient in the polyclinic. Of course, when my children were babies (at least 6 years ago), they had all their injections there because it cost much lesser than the private clinics. But I had never actually went through an outpatient consultation process in a polyclinic before. Or maybe with the babies and my husband with me, it didn't seem so unbearable at that time. It was really a tiring and humbling experience. I was there for 2 and a half hours and got to see the doctor, who looked like he was fresh out of school, for a mere 5 minutes and half the time he was not even looking at me but busy writing down stuff on a yellow file.

Fortunately, clever old me had asked my ENT specialist to write down my condition and some medical history for the polyclinic doctor when I went for my post-op follow-up this morning. Otherwise, I might have to talk really quickly and worry if he knows the difference between andenoids and tonsils. If not for the fact that my specialist had recommended immunotherapy (a procedure where the expert finds out allergies and the triggers), and that it is a long-drawn and expensive process, I would have rather paid the extra $20 or so to see a private GP. I guess you have to have a lot of time when you are poor in order to see a doctor in the polyclinic. But then again, when one is poor, time is also precious, an opportunity cost, not unlike the middle- and upper-middle class citizens.

But I guess I shouldn't complain. Singapore's health care system is still more advance and friendly than other countries. I read some where that in the UK, some patients have to wait up to a year to get a surgery or operation scheduled. My next appointment is in 2 weeks. I'm being a typical Singaporean - impatient, easily irritated, a damn good complainer and a damn bad customer.