I’m pretty sure you’ve heard about the infamous Case 31 in South Korea.
Because she refused to get tested for Covid-19, the entire country is now in turmoil.
Which is possibly why the Singapore Ministry of Health decided to activate the PHPC scheme.
Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC)
At these clinics, Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs) are able to get subsidised treatments for their coughs and flu.
Normal Singaporeans and PRs only has to pay $10 while the elderly in the Merdeka and Pioneer Generation only has to pay $5.
These clinics are trained to handle contagious diseases properly.
To identify them, there will be a PHPC decal located at the front of the clinic.
And It’s Working
Doctors The Straits Times spoke to said that they’re seeing an increase in the number of patients daily.
Many of them have minor symptoms.
But because they’re worried about having Covid-19, they turn up anyway.
Because more people are turning up at PHPCs, lesser people are going to the crowded polyclinics, which is great because it lessens the risk of another Covid-19 cluster forming.
The subsidised charges also convince Singaporeans to check out their respiratory problems instead of dismissing it and swallowing a Panadol.
Surprisingly, Not Everybody’s A Fan Of 5-Day MC
Previously, doctors are urged to give 5-day medical leave to people exhibiting respiratory problems.
That’s due to the fact that normal influenza can be recovered from within three to four days. If the problem persists, they can be sent for further checks before going back to the workplace.
But not everybody is enthused about the idea.
Some are from low-income families who have to work in order to be paid. And the loss of five working days could deal a huge hit to their earnings for the month.
Especially for those who work part-time or gets paid on a daily basis.
Well, even if you’re a full-timer with benefits, do you know that there’s a quota for paid medical leave, too? Though for now, it’s unknown if this 5-day MC would be included in the quota or not.
A Compromise
Dr Kenneth Tan, a family physician at Kenneth Tan Medical Clinic, decided to compromise with them instead.
Instead of giving them 5 days’ rest, he gave them a shorter rest period instead.
But they have to come back for a review if they do not recover from their respiratory problem.
Another doctor, Dr Alvina Nam, also did the same thing. Most of her patients are young people whose parents don’t want them to be away from school too long or office workers who don’t want their work to accumulate.
She will give them a shorter medical leave but they have to come back for a review after.
Both doctors would prefer that their patients come to them instead of ignoring a cough.
So even if you don’t want 5 days’ MC, don’t ignore your cough and go to work. Instead, head to the nearest PHPC and see if you can get a similar compromise from them.
After all, you won’t want to be the next ‘crazy ajumma‘, do you?
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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