Thio Li-Ann withdraws from NYU appointment Dr Thio Li-Ann withdraws from appointment at NYU Law School citing disappointment over hostility shown over her views and low enrollment in her class The future of interactivity Mindboggling ideas in science. Are you angry yet? The only way to hold the govt to account is through the ballot box. Andrew Loh. The president, the cabinet, Ho Ching, Temasek’s Board of Directors – all got it wrong? Nobody asked Goodyear what his strategies were? Andrew Loh. Stop the wayang, just return our CPF! More twist and turns have appeared in the CPF Life scheme. Ng E Jay. By: mice is nice hi Inix, ////I still hold to my statement. I have absolute disdain for people who bitch about increase of prices when they want their own pay to be increased. To me, its like complaining about the Coffee Price increasing by 10c, and saying that the cofeeshops are making huge amount of money, while quietly smirking that pay rise that you got.//// firstly, you do not know me, so how can you claim others’ pay did indeed rise? secondly, i will not be drawn into a flame war with you. ////Next, I wasn’t doing an about-turn. I was just explaining my take on why healthcare is difficult to regulate, and expensive at the same time. I don’t like to bitch on things that are expensive. Its simply pointless.//// alright, maybe i mistaken. & yeah, i think i don’t get the drift. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. hi Rafflesian, let’s ignore posters who lack etiquette. its unfortunate, but let’s not get too personal with people online, its not worth the effort & time. thanks for speaking up for me. By: Rafflesian inix Does one has to agree with you to get the drift? Can’t one challenge your warped theory from one’s wealth of experience? Why are you so fond of the word ‘BITCH’?? There is no need for this sort of language to impress your views on others. By: inix 1 post entails a 4 post reply, and since you still don’t get the drift, I won’t be bothered to reply anyway. @mice is nice I still hold to my statement. I have absolute disdain for people who bitch about increase of prices when they want their own pay to be increased. To me, its like complaining about the Coffee Price increasing by 10c, and saying that the cofeeshops are making huge amount of money, while quietly smirking that pay rise that you got. Fundamentally, COL is undoubtedly linked to standard of living (although they are not the same), and that as people gets more, they want more. Next, I wasn’t doing an about-turn. I was just explaining my take on why healthcare is difficult to regulate, and expensive at the same time. I don’t like to bitch on things that are expensive. Its simply pointless. By: mice is nice hi Rafflesian, post #196 on July 7th, 2009 7.20 pm ////my point is that things are gettng more expensive can be due to costs other than wages, mainly rental, transport, utilities and most crucially, growing the profit.//// spelt out logically, in local context. its a pity Inix had to start the ball rolling with post #167on July 4th, 2009 2.40 pm. did an about turn to redeem the situation in post #177 on July 5th, 2009 11.55 am. let’s not getting at each others’ neck too often, refrain from flame baiting strangers online & try keep cool in this tiny RED DOTE called S’pore. By: Rafflesian And “inix” says my stupidity is amazing in #194! Unless “inix” has any intelligence at all, I won’t take his understanding of stupidity for granted. By: Rafflesian For those reading this discussion, my point is that things are gettng more expensive can be due to costs other than wages, mainly rental, transport, utilities and most crucially, growing the profit. So if people wish for higher wages, they should NOT be blamed for complaining about the higher costs of things. This is simple common sense but “inix” argued that business is ALL about value creation! By: Rafflesian inix If you can create a human robot to do household chores (which to me is of value) are you saying there WILL be sales, and guranteed PROFIT? What if you cannot mass produce it to cover your fixed costs (rental & wages)? What if it costs you hundreds of thousands to promote the new innovation? Wish it is so simple like you think what business is ALL about. Bank investors won’t need to hire specialists in their jobs, just somebody to evaluate the value of the products or services! By: Rafflesian 189) inix on July 6th, 2009 11.49 pm “Your stupidity is amazing! Let me make this simple for you. No value = No Sales = No profit. Cost is not everything. Value is. I’m amazed that you didn’t know that. Oh well” You really sound like one of those high & mighty “top talented scholars” that the PAP recruited in recent years. Almost everything gets messed up because of SQUARE heads like you. Are you saying all the restaurants which do not make profit have zero value? The private hospitals which do not make profit also have zero value. The electronic shop that do not make profit have zero value? Are you saying businesses which make bigger profits have better value than those which make losses even if they are trading the same items with exactly the same quality service. Do price, promotion & location not feature in your idea of business? ONLY value of the product???? Is it completely impossible to you that your cutting edge prodcut or technology or service might end up a loss maker? If your cutting edge product, though highly valuable will cost too much to build or make in order to make a profit, will there be buyers prepared to pay for it? If it is not possible to mass produce, will the business make a profit? I can see how or why SG is so way behind in many things with ‘clever’ people like you thinking so simply. By: mice is nice hi Angelina, ////Don’t put words in my mouth, I did not say its a “catch-all”//// sorry if i did. but i was given the impression form you that being highly wired & plugged in S’poreans on the whole should be well informed. dun ask me questions like ////Why have the MOST WIRED nation which according to you is of no significance?//// ////the issue on hand was that people (incl the doc) did not have a clue where the outbreak started in Spore, and the medical service providers (hospitals) did not seem to know what each other is supposed to do (procedure).//// i am not the official channel or work in the healthcare or related industry to give an answer. ////What I suspect is not about the effectiveness or not of the internet but more of not wanting anything printed in black & white. They are not sure of the info and not sure what they are doing, period.//// this i totally agree!! no evidence, no accountability!! can just say “dunno, dunno, not aware…” & *siam*…. :/ By: Angelina Hi mice is nice, Don’t put words in my mouth, I did not say its a “catch-all” but if there is another popular mass medium (not necc for news), which most big nations in the world is using, why not use it? Thats all I am saying. Why have the MOST WIRED nation which according to you is of no significance? Before you deviate any further, may I clarify that the issue on hand was that people (incl the doc) did not have a clue where the outbreak started in Spore, and the medical service providers (hospitals) did not seem to know what each other is supposed to do (procedure). What I suspect is not about the effectiveness or not of the internet but more of not wanting anything printed in black & white. They are not sure of the info and not sure what they are doing, period. Luckily this swine flu does not appear to be fatal, if it is deadly and there is press release that info is updated daily on the internet, (again I re-iterate, info of where major outbreaks are and what to do if you suspect you are infected) I can guarantee the website will be so congested, it crashes! I can guarantee you will not be the last reluctant visitor to the site. By: mice is nice hi Angelina, eh, let’s not get too personal when you reply with words like, ////If you can’t be bothered to plug in, then who is to blame?//// if you are looking for someone to blame, look for those with bigger responsibilities, not the person on the street who have not been travelling- to “import” the bug. anyway, from situation developing on a day-to-day basis, once the bug crossed into S’pore’s porous border, a relatively fast & stealthy spread is certain. with all the info available, yet companies & other organisations are slow to react & draw up contingency plans. to think that it took quite a few days before we had the 1st local confirmed infection, who should we blame for giving a window of opportunity for the bug to spread? we were never ready the the true sense, many businesses had no contingency plans. what more of mixed signals telling us not to over-react? as for, ////will YOU really not be bothered to plug in? If you can’t be bothered to plug in, then who is to blame?//// my reply is, this: 1) S’pore is humming away 24/7, in a densely populated & tiny country, the bug has the upper hand in speed & stealth in spreading. 2) there is a time lag; 2a) positively identifying the place/s of infection 2b) notifying the relevent authorities 2c) authorities disseminating the info to public 2d) contact tracing takes time, window of opportunity for spreading further 3) when a community level spread is possible contact tracing is like catching the wind with a net… 4) there is simply no foolproof way (that i know) to identify in real time the rate of the spread. is staying updated an effective way to keep the chances of infection down? just because internet is a widely used medium for news, it’s not a catch-all. don’t you get it? *faintz* By: inix @Angelina Its because I work in a cutting edge industry that I know these things happen. As for Singapore being ready, we all know its for preping the nation more then anything By: inix @Rafflesian Your stupidity is amazing! Let me make this simple for you. No value = No Sales = No profit. Cost is not everything. Value is. I’m amazed that you didn’t know that. Oh well By: centurion what can u ask for. We can have Malaysian, Indonesian, Indian as MP and Minister. Have you ever come across Indonesia, Malaysia, India have Singaporean as Minister? Phew. We Singaporean are the minority. Now, the Khaw even encourage Singaporean to live in Johor for retirement yet he can have his pension in Singapore. Phew. Phew. Phew. Phew. Phew. Phew. Phew. Phew. Phew.Phew. Phew. Phew. By: Rafflesian inix, Pls, you must tell forumers which business school did you go to. Allow me the pleasure to repeat your statement: “Value Creation is what business is ALL about.” Still can’t stop laughing. By: Rafflesian inix @184 You said “Value Creation is what business is all about.” Really? Business is NOT about PROFIT?????????? LAUGH TOO MUCH NOW! By: Angelina mice is nice & inix: “the internet may be commonplace now, but that does not mean its a catch-all media where everyone (i really mena everyone) is plugged in & logged on daily.” - When the radio was first invented, we can also say, the radio may be commonplace now, but that does not mean……. It applies to newspapers, if people can’t be bothered to open it and read, it is no use. You carry on thinking this way and you will get left behind. If I make a press release (assuming I have the power to do so, like Khaw), that places with major outbreaks are posted in the website, will YOU really not be bothered to plug in? If you can’t be bothered to plug in, then who is to blame? inix: As for procedures implementation, of course it is not as easy as we think but Khaw made a statement that Spore is READY which is what all the fuss is about in this article! By: inix @Rafflesian If you had came up with a better reply, I would probably have follow up with an extended reply like how I would commonly do in my previous replies to other posts. But with you, I will only say this. If businesses is all about costs, then unfortunately, or fortunately I should say, you have no idea how business function. This might be something new to you, but nevertheless, learn this new phase. Value Creation is what business is all about. Go back to school and learn some basic stuff before you call me ignorant. Until that, I’ll not be wasting time with your posts By: Rafflesian inix If you are really that ignorant, here is how businesses work: Anything on top of costs = Profit Costs include workers pay (the other big component is rental which of course the state owned businesses like HDB does not need to worry about) Therefore in business oeprations, the lower the workers pay and the higher the price you can sell for your service or goods, the higher the profit. Pls get this in your head that it is not necessary the case that things are more expensive because of higher pay. By: Rafflesian 167) inix on July 4th, 2009 2.40 pm “I find it annoyingly hypocritical when people are at one point bitching about their supposedly low pay while asking for more, and at the other point, bitching about how the rest of the Singapore has somehow became more expensive to be in tandem.” Inix, Are you saying medical fees will never be increased for higher profit gain? Is there an independent body making sure hospitals or medical service providers do not make profits or only make a limited profit? This applies to everything else like transport and HDB. Please inform forumers if you know of any independent bodies keeping profit figures in check. Unless you can name the orgns doing this, you cannot make the above statement blaming people’s ‘hypocricy’. Pls bear this in mind whenever people whine that costs have all gone up and wish pay has gone up too. By: KopitiamApek 178) mice is nice agree. put to rest the case. By: KopitiamApek 178) mice is nice ///service standards have gone up in tendom.//// that part we can agree that is hard to measure By: mice is nice hi Inix, i agree with what KopitiamApek, you have put together a comprehensive list of reasons why healthcare costs are not cheap. put to rest the case of why paying more does not mean service standards have gone up in tendom. By: KopitiamApek 176) inix on Very well written and accurate observation of the health care situation. ///1: Expanding the Private Medishield Scheme. Make it compulsory and all kids must (and the law must mandate that all babies can be) insured from birth and not 30 days after/// I stand corrected, but I do believe this is on the cards. A&E overloaded is a problem for decades that seems to never go away, if I may use this anology, it is just like building more roads, and this encourages more to use it and then, hello traffic jam! Brain drain is also a long standing hard to solve issue. Opening up the medical sector to foreign doctors will be worth exploring. The medical sector should not be so special that it is shielded from internatonal competition, and that will drive up the quality of doctors in SG, and keep the fees in check. By: inix @mice is nice Putting Public Transport aside, I think Healthcare is a very industry to regulate. The fundamental problem IS money. Money talks and unfortunately, the healthcare / pharma industry is dominated by money and the Govt don’t have it easy trying to manage this. 1: Healthcare is expensive – Why is it expensive? Well, the following reasons apply Labour – Nurses today are paid significantly higher as compared to yesteryears. Not to mention doctors / specialists Medicine – Medicine is also getting to be increasingly expensive. The rich country get charged more syndrome unfortunately also applies to us. It gets extra annoying when we see that Thailand and Malaysia drugs are often 50 – 60% cheaper then SG. Equipment – Again, better healthcare = better healthcare equipment. All the MRI, CT scan machines all need money. Productivity Enhancements – Hospitals are consistently upgrading their hardware trying to improve on their service. SMS updates (so that you don’t wait there like a fool), computer prescription, drug delivery all are aimed at providing better service. But they come at a cost, and it isn’t small. Lack of Doctors – People keep bitching about the fact that we can easily sidestep the issue by increasing the number of places for Doctors in NUS / whatever. The issue isn’t this simple. If its about money, we can pump, but Medicine can kill if applied wrongly, and I am not comfortable if it aint the best who become Doctor. Most certainly of all, I don’t want any tom dick / harry to become a doctor. The next issues that faces KBW is the private vs public hospital issue. There are challenges to both ends fundamentally. If Singapore do what Malaysia do, go free medical on Public Hospital, would it create a Public is crap, Private is better situation? This is exactly what is happening in Malaysia where the Govt Hospitals are unable to compete with the Private Hospitals due to the huge brain drain by the private hospital. Next, how about the problem of having to look at all frivolous cases. Already the A&E is overloaded, by going free healthcare, won’t we result in a much heavier load for the hospitals? These are very practical problems which countries like AU are facing today and still have no answer for. I personally think that what can be done, is the following; 1: Expanding the Private Medishield Scheme. Make it compulsory and all kids must (and the law must mandate that all babies can be) insured from birth and not 30 days after 2: Cover all in-patient & out-patient treatment via this insurance, and double healthcare budget to fund this portion. Its currently around 3% of GDP, and we can have it up to 5% of GDP. 3: Cover all pre-existing issues for Singaporeans, and up all Medishield related Medical Insurance Premiums 50 – 100% to around $300PA under 40 years old, and $500PA under 50 years old. 4: Setup a Government Fund for Singaporeans (PRs not involved) where Singaporeans will be able to apply for Private Medishield Insurance paid for by the Government for the needy. 5: This can be afforded by a corresponding increase of GST to 10% as a corresponding increase in income tax wouldn’t get the same results. With this proposal, I suspect that we will be able to get a better healthcare system as no one will be denied healthcare / made bankrupt due to healthcare, but the trade off is to pay slightly higher taxes.