From Straits TImes forums 26 Feb 2007...
Thank docs who make themselves available
I REFER to the letter, 'Clinic charged $42 for consultation over
CNY' by Mr Andrew Chia Teck Fatt (ST, Feb 23).
I do sympathise with Mr Chia, but I honestly feel he should not
begrudge the fact that his grandmother was charged $42. In fact, he
should be grateful to the doctor who made himself available on a
public holiday when most clinics are closed.
If he had taken his grandmother to a public hospital, he would have
had to pay a higher fee. Public hospitals charge no less than $70
per consultation. In addition, he would have had to wait at least a
couple of hours to see a doctor.
I called a plumber recently to fix a leaking tap. He
charged me $400 without batting an eyelid.
I called an electrician to fix a fuse box, and he charged me $600
without hesitation.
I called a roof contractor to fix a leaking roof. He sent a worker
up to the roof with a pail of cement. The worker came down within
five minutes and I had a $500 bill. I paid because it was after
office hours and a public holiday.
Why do we complain when we pay $42 to the hardworking doctor who
makes himself available on a public holiday? It's a pittance to say
the least.
I believe the good doctor should have charged Mr Chia $100 for a
consultation on a public holiday. And that, I feel, is still very
modest.
Amy Ng Siok Im (Ms)
