Pixelated Scribbles

Yesterday’s paper was…interesting. I’d chuckle at some questions, and I’d scratch my head on some other. Then again, coming from the person who’d set the questions, it’s not surprising. His mind (and words) work in funny ways. I’m going to have another paper this afternoon, so I’ll have some time to do a bit of last minute reading…later. For now, I shall blog. Hu hu hu.

Again, some great news coming from home, alhamdulilah. From yesterday’s news published on how Brunei is:

1) “looking at the feasibility of building a new hospital”,

2) planning to build a dialysis centre in the other 3 districts (tutong, temburong, belait)

3) also “studying the feasibility of establishing a cancer centre and renal transplant services”.

You can read the articles here, and here. Kudos to Brunei for having such visions. But the part of the news that got me REALLY excited was the establishment of the Brunei Medical Association – “a platform to talk on improving health care”. Now may I please say – finally? Alhamdulilah. All praise to Allah. NOW we’re going somewhere. The effectiveness of the association is another matter, but the INITIATIVE and ESTABLISHMENT- now those two things could get the ball rolling. It took Brunei’s raising health costs (notice how ‘health costs’ kept on popping out in the article?) to get them to this point. Whoever said that no good ever come out of a messy situation? Neither articles have fully described the aims, roles and functions of the BMA hence my comments on the organisation is limited. However, assuming that the members would comprise of medical practitioners of a wide range of specialities, the exchange of knowledge amongst them would definitely benefit both patient and practitioner….or create more havoc. Hehe. But seriously, health is not unidimensional. An illness my have more than one causes (e.g. the biopsychosocial model – whereby health is influenced by the biology, the psychology and the social aspect of a person). Or, a symptom may not have an underlying psychopathology (e.g. chronic thumbsucking may not be due to serious behaviour problems). So I’m assuming the BMA would allow such exploration of illnesses so that they could come up with more effective (and not forgetting, cost effecient too!) treatments.

Now. A paragraph from the news article both amused and impressed me.

The minister also reminded the doctors that there is no “one size fits all” treatment. A few patients may have had bad experience at the hands of the doctors, though not intentionally, but enough to leave a negative impression of the health care services and destroy whatever level of confidence they have in us, he said and asked, “So how do we counter the negative label that is readily given to us?

I am glad they’ve realised the seriousness of this. I myself have met a very rude doctor (talked down on me, threw his pen at me to use and sign in their record book..he was even disrespectful to his staff!! SERIUS DEH!) before, and quite a number of unpleasant hospital staff who didn’t smile nor answered my salam (a bit common, isn’t it?). Though, I have met doctors who are very thorough, attentive and answered all my questions (unfortunately, they weren’t local doctors…it’s a shame, isn’t it?). I may have heard more horrendous things that has happened involving Brunei hospitals and staff, but let’s not gossip ya? Heh. During my undergrad years, we had one topic that covered on this patient-practitioner relationship. One of the few things that I remember is how this relationship is the make and break of treatment compliancy and a person’s likeliness of seeking treatment when required. How often do we hear about a person who’s afraid of going to the dentist just because he or she had a terrible experience with a dentist many years ago? Breaking the stereotype should be one of the main focus for MoH.

I’d love to talk some more, but I have a test to study for. Until then…stay safe