A Lecture that touched the nerves of a few Singaporeans...

In the MBBS course that is conducted over here in Monash, you not only get to learn abouth the technical or biological aspects of being a doctor. You are expected to grasp the sociological issues that should concern a doctor as well. So, included as one of the main themes of our course is the Health, Knowledge and Society theme, where you get exposed to all the sociological issues in medicine and healthcare.

What is an equitable healthcare system?
What are the sociological issues that you have to juggle with when you are treating your patient?
How is medicine viewed by different cultures and societies?

Isn't that like GP in JC? You're deadright! In fact, I had a deja vu sense of feeling sitting through the tutorials of this theme. What the hell does sociology has to do with being a doctor?!

Well, that's a very good question. And I don't seem to have a good answer to it. I guess that the people in Australia expect their doctors to be all-rounders. To be competent doctors as well as doctors who are concerned and aware of the issues that are existent in the healthcare system.

Anyway, the lectures for this theme have been mudane, confusing and sleep-inducing. And that's in no small part caused by this well-endowed female lecturer who keeps exceeding her time. She's probably not 1 of the most popular person among the medical students here.

But there was a change of proceedings in the lecture yesterday afternoon. Apparently, a guest speaker was invited to lecture instead of the fat lady. And boy was he a breath of fresh air. For the 1st time, I was wide awake in a lecture. (I think the SAF experience makes you equate lectures with sleep.) This time, the topic in concern was access and the equity of a healthcare system.

The lecturer was interactive and threw up thought-provoking questions to the floor. Instead of going down the ineffective road of just throwing up a huge garbage of technical definitions and content and expect the students to gobble everything up, he gave relevant examples and spoke in simple, easy-to-understand layman terms. His loud booming voice was also a plus factor to throw you out of dreamland.

But what was the most unique point about this guest lecturer was his knowledge of the Malaysia's and Singapore's healthcare system. Apparently, he had studied in Malaysia in his younger days and took a keen interest in the social developments in that part of the world. The lecturer made full use of this experience of his to strike a chord with the large number of Malaysian students in the cohort. Chanting 'Malaysia boleh!' and adding in other sentences of Bahasa Melayu threw the Malaysians into ecstasy.

After charming the Malaysians, the lecturer focused on the Singaporeans. Touching on the topic of equity, the lecturer threw up the example of The Affordable Health Care White Paper that was drawn up by the government in 1993.

He quoted a few sections of the Paper:
' ... even destitute persons who cannot afford to pay should not be deprived of basic health care'
'... but it will not provide the latest and best of everything'
'... the treatment will be delivered without frills.'

The few statements above looks innocuous enough. However, the lecturer chose to highlight certain phrases with a tone of sarcasm, giving a impression filled with cynism.

I could sense a few nerves of my fellow Singaporeans schoolmates being touched.
'What? Are you implying that the system in Singapore is flawed or inferior?'

Next, he went on to question the meaning of no-frills treatment as well as the poor not being able to have the best of everything.

'Is it fair to the poor? Is this an equitable system?'

'And do the Singaporeans have anything to say about this?'

For a second, there was silence.

then...

'Of course it's a fair system. The poor who are ill will still be able to receive decent healthcare services and be cured of their illness. Just that they will not be able to enjoy the cosmetic aspects of these services like air-conditioning and etc.'

A few rings of applause followed.

I was glad and proud that my friend stood up to speak for our country. Even though it may seem a small issue and it was obvious the lecturer was attempting to spur us to put our thinking caps on, it was still immensely satisfying to see a show of patriotism by my friend.

It is when you are away in a foreign land that feelings of patriotism and a sense of belonging to your country emerges. At least for me. Anything to do with the tiny island country that I call home, I will take immense interest in.

Especially after fulfilling 2 years of national service, you sort of think that you have earned the right to proclaim that you are a Singaporean. This feeling is especially strong when you meet young men who have migrated over here from Singapore to avoid having to serve NS and have switched their citizenship. What would life be if I had done the same thing?

Would I be a happier man? I might be in the 3rd year of my degree now instead of wasting 2 bloody years in the army. Would I?



Of course not. I am proud to be a Singaporean. I cherish my right to being a Singaporean. I am proud to have done my part for the country. I am glad that there will always be a place for me to return to.

A place where my friends and family members will be awaiting my arrival when I return. A place where all my childhood memories reside. A place where I spent all my highs and lows in my short span on Earth. A place where I got my education. A place that my roots grew from.

A place that I call home.