There are two big advantages of using subsidised wards (B2)
a) You get a subsidy of 50% to 65% of the hospital bill
b) As the government is paying a large part of the bill, they will check that the bill is reasonable.
If the patient has to pay 100% of the bill (i.e no subsidy), there is a risk that the hospital may charge more, or give more treatment than necessary. You have to pay 100% of a larger bill.
I estimate that a bill from a private hospital could be 3 times of the subsidised bill, for the same treatment.
Some people said that the doctors treating patients in subsidised wards are under training and not experienced. I do not agree with this comment. It may be true that the doctors are under training, but they do the routine medical checks and are supervised by the experienced doctors.
When it comes to surgery or other major procedures, an experienced specialist will carry out the procedure. There is really no need for the patient to choose his own doctor.
However, if the patient is willing to pay a higher bill to be treated in a private hospitals or A class ward, and enjoy the privilege to choose their own doctor, it is all right. They can also buy insurance for the more expensive treatment, but the cost of the insurance can be three times.
Tan Kin Lian
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Protecting consumers from scams
Mr. Tan,
Do you expect the government to protect people who are stupid enough to put their money into nothing more than somebody's word? For example, if someone got people to give him $1 million - saying that he would give them 20% return by passing the money on to his anonymous friend involved in some business, and one year on, - the anonymous friend had disappeared?
REPLY
There is nothing that the government can do, if they are not aware about this activity. However, if there is a report of such activity, it is the duty of the government to investigate if the people are crooks that goes about cheating other people with scams.
In the case of land banking, which is really a collective investment scheme, there is a need to regulate these activities, as it has been done in most countries. The regulation will ensure that the money is collected and used for its legitimate purpose and is not misappropriated.
There is also a need to ensure that the managers act honestly in the interest of investors (i.e. fiduciary duty) and pay the appropriate price for the land. They cannot "cheat" the investors by paying an inflated price for the land, especially if they buy from a connected party where there is a conflict of interest.
Where the investment scheme is advertised in the media to the general public, it is necessary for the product to be regulated and approved.
I do not expect the government to protect people from foolish investments or to compensate them for their loss. But the government should at least ensure that crooks are not free to cheat other people without any restraint.
Tan Kin Lian
Do you expect the government to protect people who are stupid enough to put their money into nothing more than somebody's word? For example, if someone got people to give him $1 million - saying that he would give them 20% return by passing the money on to his anonymous friend involved in some business, and one year on, - the anonymous friend had disappeared?
REPLY
There is nothing that the government can do, if they are not aware about this activity. However, if there is a report of such activity, it is the duty of the government to investigate if the people are crooks that goes about cheating other people with scams.
In the case of land banking, which is really a collective investment scheme, there is a need to regulate these activities, as it has been done in most countries. The regulation will ensure that the money is collected and used for its legitimate purpose and is not misappropriated.
There is also a need to ensure that the managers act honestly in the interest of investors (i.e. fiduciary duty) and pay the appropriate price for the land. They cannot "cheat" the investors by paying an inflated price for the land, especially if they buy from a connected party where there is a conflict of interest.
Where the investment scheme is advertised in the media to the general public, it is necessary for the product to be regulated and approved.
I do not expect the government to protect people from foolish investments or to compensate them for their loss. But the government should at least ensure that crooks are not free to cheat other people without any restraint.
Tan Kin Lian
Think cooperation and win-win
There is a dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia about the origin of the Pendek dance and batik cloth. Indonesians write to their newspapers to complain about the use of the dance and batik in the Malaysian tourism advertisement. Some Indonesians even search for Malaysians on the roads in Jakarta to abuse them.
This matter has now been taken at top levels of the two governments, in an attempt to solve the dispute over the claim of "ownership".
Malaysia now claim that the laksa, Hainanese chicken rice and chili crab is "owned" by them. This has implication on Singapore, as they are promoted as the cuisine of Singapore.
These disputes are a sign of the times and the weakening of the moral fibre of our society. People have become too selfish and think only of their own interest, and not the welfare of others.
There is no need for neighboring countries to compete for tourists. We can work together to promote several countries at the same time. Tourists going to one country is likely to stay a day or two in a neighboring country. We need to think of "win-win", "cooperation" instead of "competition".
We need a better way to handle disputes, rather than to have the negative aspects broadcast in the media or on the streets.
Tan Kin Lian
This matter has now been taken at top levels of the two governments, in an attempt to solve the dispute over the claim of "ownership".
Malaysia now claim that the laksa, Hainanese chicken rice and chili crab is "owned" by them. This has implication on Singapore, as they are promoted as the cuisine of Singapore.
These disputes are a sign of the times and the weakening of the moral fibre of our society. People have become too selfish and think only of their own interest, and not the welfare of others.
There is no need for neighboring countries to compete for tourists. We can work together to promote several countries at the same time. Tourists going to one country is likely to stay a day or two in a neighboring country. We need to think of "win-win", "cooperation" instead of "competition".
We need a better way to handle disputes, rather than to have the negative aspects broadcast in the media or on the streets.
Tan Kin Lian
YOG Quiz
Singapore will be hosting the 1st YOG (Youth Olympic Games) on 14 to 26 August 2010. Tan Kin Lian & Associates invite you to exercise your creativity by giving a name to any of the shape shown on the attached form. Participation is free. Enjoy the fun. Read the rules shown in the sheet.
It is easy to take part in this game. You only need to identify 1 shape with one country or sport or feature of the game. For example, which shape best represent
America
Canada
China
Japan
Australia
Singapore
Indonesia
or any other country
Which shape best represent
Swimming
Athletics
Cycling
Tennis
Long jump
High jump
Judo
or any other game
Which shape represents the Olympic Flame?
It is easy to take part in this game. You only need to identify 1 shape with one country or sport or feature of the game. For example, which shape best represent
America
Canada
China
Japan
Australia
Singapore
Indonesia
or any other country
Which shape best represent
Swimming
Athletics
Cycling
Tennis
Long jump
High jump
Judo
or any other game
Which shape represents the Olympic Flame?
FISCA volunteers - write complaints to Police.
FISCA wants to help members to write complaints to the Police, if they have been cheated or badly treated by another party, and some law has been infringed. The volunteers should preferably have knowledge of the law and experience in writing complaints to Police. If you wish to volunteer, send an e-mail to kinlian@gmail.com
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Role of public and private sectors
Many governments around the world are short sighted. They want to reduce the cost of the public sector, so they cut down on the number of people employed in the public service, such as teachers, doctors, nurses and policemen. This is ostensibly to reduce the burden on the tax-payers.
If there are insufficient people to provide the public services, relatively to the size of the population, the standard will drop, as these public employers are overworked, overstretched and overstressed. The standard of teaching, health care and public order must surely drop.
There has to be a proper balance. We need an adequate number of people to provide the public service and must be willing to pay the appropriate tax to fund these services.
If the public service is not provided adequately, the people will have to arrange for these services privately. It may be more costly and the standard may be inferior. In some countries, the residents have to engage their own security guards to look after their housing estates. They have to pay more to get private health care and education.
An adequately staffed public service also helps to create employment and put more people into useful occupations. If there is inadequate work in the productive occupations, the excess manpower may be channeled into unproductive work, such as the speculative activities in the financial sector and marketing of investment scams.
There is no need for the public sector to crowd out the private sector. They can co-exist. The public sector can provide for the needs of the lower and middle income groups. The higher income groups can pay more to get private health care, education or other services. They can get personal and better quality attention, but they pay more. The public sector will be around to offer a choice and keep a reasonable limit on the charges of the private sector.
Singapore used to have a good balance between the public and private sector. I hope that we can go back to the good old days.
Tan Kin Lian
If there are insufficient people to provide the public services, relatively to the size of the population, the standard will drop, as these public employers are overworked, overstretched and overstressed. The standard of teaching, health care and public order must surely drop.
There has to be a proper balance. We need an adequate number of people to provide the public service and must be willing to pay the appropriate tax to fund these services.
If the public service is not provided adequately, the people will have to arrange for these services privately. It may be more costly and the standard may be inferior. In some countries, the residents have to engage their own security guards to look after their housing estates. They have to pay more to get private health care and education.
An adequately staffed public service also helps to create employment and put more people into useful occupations. If there is inadequate work in the productive occupations, the excess manpower may be channeled into unproductive work, such as the speculative activities in the financial sector and marketing of investment scams.
There is no need for the public sector to crowd out the private sector. They can co-exist. The public sector can provide for the needs of the lower and middle income groups. The higher income groups can pay more to get private health care, education or other services. They can get personal and better quality attention, but they pay more. The public sector will be around to offer a choice and keep a reasonable limit on the charges of the private sector.
Singapore used to have a good balance between the public and private sector. I hope that we can go back to the good old days.
Tan Kin Lian
RED Portal (8) - Search by sector
Which are the housing projects in sector 59 (Bukit Timah, King Albert Park) with the highest benchmark price (BMP) and the highest amenity index (AMX)?
Go to the RED portal and select sector 59. It displays a table of housing projects in that sector. Click twice on BMP to sort by benchmark price in descending order. You will see the following:
Click twice on AMX and you will see the following:
Click on View to see more details about the housing project. Click on * to see a Price Chart.
Tan Kin Lian
Go to the RED portal and select sector 59. It displays a table of housing projects in that sector. Click twice on BMP to sort by benchmark price in descending order. You will see the following:
Year Units BMP AMX
59 STERLING, THE Condo 232 1025 22
59 1 KING ALBERT Condo 1997 101 816 38
59 CHUN TIN COURT Condo 763 42
59 CAVENDISH PARK Condo 1996 254 745 10
59 PALM RESIDENCE Condo 2005 32 729 15
59 PANDAN VALLEY Condo 1979 623 714 4
Click twice on AMX and you will see the following:
Year Units BMP AMX
9 CHUN TIN COURT Condo 0 0 763 42
59 RAINBOW GARDENS Condo 1985 64 501 39
59 MEADOWLODGE Condo 2005 64 708 39
59 1 KING ALBERT Condo 1997 101 816 38
59 SUN COURT Condo 1985 0 377 38
Click on View to see more details about the housing project. Click on * to see a Price Chart.
Tan Kin Lian
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