tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155756522024-03-25T07:31:50.311+08:00Angry DoctorThis blog is not a substitute for medical advice.
If in doubt consult your physician.angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comBlogger730125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-14059446058095871462011-08-19T08:00:00.002+08:002011-08-19T21:07:45.432+08:00Six Years<span style="font-size:85%;">Two thousand one hundred and eighty-five days.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Seven hundred and thirty posts.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Thanks for reading.</span>
<br />angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-55207791355856890732011-08-12T17:00:00.002+08:002011-08-12T17:05:33.364+08:00"London burns: A Singaporean fumes"<span style="font-size:85%;">angry doc is not above using other people's misfortune to make a point about his politics, hence the links to <a href="http://singaporeansays.blogspot.com/2011/08/london-burns-singaporean-fumes.html">this post</a> and <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2024284/UK-riots-2011-Liberal-dogma-spawned-generation-brutalised-youths.html">this</a>.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">In the days ahead politicians, ex-politicians and politician-wannabes will no doubt try to gain popularity by promising to steer this country down a more socialist route. angry doc hopes we will not all be seduced by the vision of a socialist paradise and become blind to its many perils.</span>
<br />angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-76682853488716783252011-08-11T18:00:00.001+08:002011-08-11T18:00:04.321+08:00Whose voice is it anyway?<span style="font-size:85%;">As the Presidential Elections Committee announces the candidates to whom it has issued Certificates of Eligibility, angry doc notes that he has in fact blogged about three out of the four: </span><a href="http://angrydr.blogspot.com/2010/12/penny-for-your-thought-4.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mr Tan Kim Lian</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">, </span><a href="http://angrydr.blogspot.com/2011/04/small-change-you-can-believe-in.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mr Tan Jee Say</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">, and </span><a href="http://angrydr.blogspot.com/2008/04/whose-medicine-is-it-anyway.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dr Tan Cheng Bock</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ironically, while they each claim to be the voice for Sinagporeans, they hold views that angry doc, also a Singaporean, disagrees with. How is that possible?</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The truth is, Singaporeans hold a myriad of views over a multitude of subjects, and oftentimes while these views are in direct opposition to each other. In addition, while two Singaporeans may share the same view on one subject, they may disagree over another. There is no "one voice" for all Singaporeans, and anyone who claims that he can be that one voice for all Singaporeans is... well, angry doc disagrees with him.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">It is easy to be populist and make the blanket statement that "I will represent you and fight for you", and much more difficult to make a stand and say: "these things I believe in - vote for me if you believe the same".</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">angry doc certainly won't be voting for any Tan this election...</span>
<br />angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-21697611226404134522011-08-01T10:00:00.004+08:002011-08-01T10:42:28.368+08:00Donation Economics<em><span style="font-size:85%;">Really, you can't make stuff like this up...</span></em><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_696872.html"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Tax reliefs: Treat all donors equally</strong> </span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">WHEN a person makes a donation to an Institution of a Public Character, a government-approved museum or a prescribed educational or research institution, he is entitled to a tax relief equal to 250 per cent of the amount donated.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">An approved donation of, say, $1,000 reduces the donor's chargeable income by $2,500.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The impact of this varies for different donors, depending on their chargeable income.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">If the donor's chargeable income exceeds $320,000, for which the marginal tax rate is 20 per cent, the net (after-tax) outlay to the donor is $500.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">If his chargeable income is between $30,000 and $40,000, for which the marginal tax rate is 3.5 per cent, his net outlay is $912.50.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">If his chargeable income is less than $20,000, for which the marginal tax rate is zero, his net outlay is $1,000.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This does not appear right.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">First, a donation is a donation. The tax relief results in an inverse relationship between the net outlay of a donation and the donor's marginal tax rate. Why should a donation of any given amount become an outlay that is smaller after tax for a high-income donor than for a low-income donor?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Second, this distortion has been magnified as the tax relief was raised over the years. The tax relief was doubled to 200 per cent of the amount donated in 2002, and to 250 per cent in 2009.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Third, the lower a donor's chargeable income, the donation of any given amount forms a bigger part of his chargeable income and may be a bigger sacrifice for him.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;">The existing tax relief should be replaced by a tax rebate of a fixed percentage of the amount donated. In addition, individuals who do not pay income tax should receive, in cash from the Government, an amount equal to the tax rebate.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">In this way, all donors will be treated equally and equitably.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Such changes should not discourage donations by the wealthy - if the donations are truly from </span><span style="font-size:85%;">their hearts.<br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Boey</span></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>angry doc was reminded of the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Barstool</span> Economics" parable when he read this letter; Mr <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Boey</span> sounds like one of the gentlemen who now pays less for his drink, but is nonetheless unhappy that the richest are enjoying a bigger discount than he is.</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Mr <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Boey</span> ignores the fact that even with the bigger discount, the actual amount of taxes paid by those in the highest bracket remains much higher than that paid by those in the lower brackets. He believes that the a fixed rebate rate treats all donors "equally and equitably", yet has no problem with a progressive income tax regimen.</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Ironically, the tax rebate which he proposes that donors who do not pay income tax will come mainly from those in the higher brackets - a man can choose to "donate" $1000, when in truth he donates only part of that, with the remainder being levied from those who pay income tax (with no choice in the matter). In fact, by having a rebate on donations, we are in fact making those in the higher brackets pay for a part of all donations made - we are in effect forcing them to pay for our donations! Is this, in Mr <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Boey's</span> opinion, fairer than the existing system?</em></span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-5963648844402711732011-07-22T17:00:00.001+08:002011-07-22T17:00:08.021+08:00Nationalisation - the cure for all woes?<strong><a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_693083.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">Nationalising public transport not fair</span></a></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">MR GERALD Giam states that taxpayers already contribute to the basic infrastructure of the transport system and does not elaborate ("Consider the economic reality of transport here"; Tuesday).</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">His view suggests that, as we have paid for some of it with our taxes, it should not bother us to continue to subsidise the transport system's operation.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">We should draw a clear line between state money, which funds basic infrastructure (which benefits the country as a whole) and state money subsidising transport operations (which benefit only users).</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Mr Giam does not differentiate between the two. Using taxpayers' funds to subsidise public transport users is an ongoing, open-ended contribution which is unfair to those who do not use it.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Mr Giam also criticises the profit model which he says benefits only shareholders via dividend payouts.<br />This may be true but somewhat distorts reality.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Investors did not get a free ride. They coughed up money from their own pockets, which the public transport operator uses for its operation and such.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">To the investor, this constitutes some risk and it is not wrong for him to expect a return.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Capital formation markets, be they in stocks or bonds, are basically avenues for enterprises to gain access to vital capital, without which any economy would fail.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">It is a willing-buyer, willing-seller system which, one hopes, is a win-win situation.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">In a nationalised transport system, the taxpayer who does not use the system is not given the choice whether he wants to ante up this risk money to subsidise its continued operation.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Daniel Yew</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>angry doc does not think that our public transport system is perfect, or that the public transport market is truly competitive; still, he is not convinced that nationalisation of public transport is the solution, or that it is fair, for reasons that Mr Yew has stated.</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>The idea that "[u]sing taxpayers' funds to subsidise public transport users is an ongoing, open-ended contribution which is unfair to those who do not use it" seems obvious, but there will always be those who continue to advocate it because they perceive that they stand to gain from it, either for political capital, or because they don't want to pay for what they use.</em></span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-14727089816015090882011-07-08T20:21:00.007+08:002011-07-08T20:28:37.837+08:00Not sure if...<strong></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOzJ8Toi4zlRn3siBnM2GN0ieUrn9AKJUyWFICMNY6ycjMD2R8D-8VdI90q-Y9PRaMCxkPeNUZlPZM9v6y9YZMTsip4VS2uXgBlUHB6MvtrYqPFHi-58KNhqWaQvF0jAn1aJ36w/s1600/Not-sure-if-trolling-or-just-stupid.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626956233817525410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOzJ8Toi4zlRn3siBnM2GN0ieUrn9AKJUyWFICMNY6ycjMD2R8D-8VdI90q-Y9PRaMCxkPeNUZlPZM9v6y9YZMTsip4VS2uXgBlUHB6MvtrYqPFHi-58KNhqWaQvF0jAn1aJ36w/s320/Not-sure-if-trolling-or-just-stupid.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><div><strong><a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_688206.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">Raise pay of other health-care professionals too</span></a></strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">I AM glad the Ministry of Health is reviewing doctors' salaries ('MOH to review doctors' pay'; Wednesday) and hope that the welfare and salaries of the unsung heroes in hospitals will also be looked into.</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">They include nurses, physiotherapists, speech therapists and nutritionists.</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Although public hospitals have a long way to go to catch up with private hospitals, the step to review salaries shows that the ministry is becoming more open to changes.</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">However, I hope this will not result in an increase in patients' bills.</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">David Soh</span></strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Sure, why not? Raise service provider's pay, but keep the price to consumers the same. Don't see any problem there...</span></em> </div>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-4875485038727753532011-06-28T11:30:00.001+08:002011-06-28T12:43:21.567+08:00You CAN put a price on everything...<span style="font-size:85%;">(</span><a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/06/you-can-put-price-on-everything.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">Posted on the Singapore MD blog</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">)</span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-76371026119301709212011-06-24T18:00:00.006+08:002011-06-24T18:14:36.311+08:00"Getting ill and fat from stuffing our eyes with TV"<blockquote><br /><p>At long last, McDonald’s in Singapore is offering a grilled chicken salad among its menu choices. I gave it a try the other day...</p><br /><p>As I was about to tuck into it, a ‘McDonald’s uncle’ (one of the restaurant’s elderly employees) who was tasked with clearing tables, walked past and looked quizzically at my order. He then quietly said to me that I should not bring outside food into a McDonald’s restaurant. </p><br /><p>“But I bought this here,” I protested. “Haven’t you seen this item before?” </p><br /><p>Apparently not.</p><br /><p>Apparently no one else has yet ordered it.<br /></p></blockquote><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></p></span><span style="font-size:85%;">(read the full article </span><a href="http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/getting-ill-and-fat-from-stuffing-our-eyes-with-tv/"><span style="font-size:85%;">here</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">)</span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-62200592396845527412011-06-07T20:30:00.000+08:002011-06-07T20:30:01.903+08:00GPs not functioning?<span style="font-size:85%;">(<a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/06/gps-not-functioning.html">Posted on the Singapore MD blog</a>)</span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-23674506637384073572011-06-05T23:49:00.006+08:002011-06-06T08:54:23.673+08:00Obvious News Day<p><span style="font-size:85%;">So... flooding is caused by </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1133345/1/.html">too much water</a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">? That's news to angry doc...</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Almost all smokers are aware of the harmful effect of secondhand smoke to others, but still they continued <a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1133330/1/.html">to smoke in front of their families and friends</a> who do not smoke? Well, if they are concerned about the family and friends to begin with, why would they do something that harmed their own health to begin with?</span></p>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-27041616179325067062011-05-31T22:15:00.000+08:002011-05-31T22:15:01.060+08:00"There is no abuse"<span style="font-size:85%;">(<a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/05/there-is-no-abuse.html">Posted on the Singapore MD blog</a>)</span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-47226709900446142492011-05-25T17:00:00.002+08:002011-05-26T17:30:51.125+08:00"Why Physician Compensation Plans Fail"<span style="font-size:85%;">(</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-physician-compensation-plans-fail_25.html">Posted on the Singapore MD blog</a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">)</span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-24404298684128044392011-05-12T20:00:00.000+08:002011-05-21T23:09:31.758+08:00Subsidy - the cure for all woes?<span style="font-size:85%;">(<a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/05/subsidy-cure-for-all-woes.html">Posted on the Singapore MD blog</a>)</span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-26532699130146656852011-05-10T21:30:00.001+08:002011-05-10T22:18:47.766+08:00Forget George Yeo...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5hlj_TV8KDO4ttD2fJjzGYGs_930T23SrGiRwa02JJh3zDg82_r9qCBY-8xW_DHqXeFcYsBoKJuE58Kzb2Kr_ZbeppbS8Xoiv6xJXl6nD5BsQpZFCD01yYNz3a2qCb4ykX7c6Q/s1600/mar2011-letters-03.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605078239223622434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5hlj_TV8KDO4ttD2fJjzGYGs_930T23SrGiRwa02JJh3zDg82_r9qCBY-8xW_DHqXeFcYsBoKJuE58Kzb2Kr_ZbeppbS8Xoiv6xJXl6nD5BsQpZFCD01yYNz3a2qCb4ykX7c6Q/s320/mar2011-letters-03.png" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> angry doc says we make <a href="http://www.challenge.gov.sg/2011/03/its-our-community-lets-get-involved-by-yam-ah-mee/">this guy</a> our next president...</span><br /><br /><br /><div></div>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-25980628575023398282011-05-04T18:00:00.000+08:002011-05-04T18:00:05.678+08:00Shadowy Health Plan<span style="font-size:85%;">(<a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/05/shadowy-health-plan.html">Posted on the Singapore MD blog)</a></span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-28406880880950409402011-05-04T00:30:00.002+08:002011-05-04T20:50:35.439+08:00Coming soon to a HDB flat near you...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEdoSjhHqJ-IZBMEupoyNDLPxIXPvIvk0X48RLrHg0qI3G2cFTjUFUxKwNecFaVyW5EJDbWTN3u4eBd798rYNfMJvJ5iVDe_HhKvYP74ZQ4c1-bRiwmDklaZqFW8TXQsQRdScQw/s1600/Singapores-Void-Decks-Melting-Pots-Of-Its-Society-2.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602524110968936482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEdoSjhHqJ-IZBMEupoyNDLPxIXPvIvk0X48RLrHg0qI3G2cFTjUFUxKwNecFaVyW5EJDbWTN3u4eBd798rYNfMJvJ5iVDe_HhKvYP74ZQ4c1-bRiwmDklaZqFW8TXQsQRdScQw/s320/Singapores-Void-Decks-Melting-Pots-Of-Its-Society-2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Blogger's impression of the James Gomez Wing of Chee Soon Juan Memorial Hospital</span></em></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Details <a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1126563/1/.html">here</a>...</span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-78077044971747587002011-04-28T23:00:00.004+08:002011-04-28T23:19:56.082+08:00Small change you can believe in<span style="font-size:85%;"><em>angry doc doesn't usually show his politics on his blog, but </em></span><a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1125274/1/.html"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>this news article</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> just has to be brought to his reders' attention, he thinks...</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>(excerpts)</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">SDP candidate Tan Jee Say said: "S$10 billion of the $60 billion will be going to promote (and) create industries.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"I think these are industries of the future, where your young, educated population can find traction, do well and excel.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"The kind of industries, services like advertising publishing and all that, these are industries of the future - creative industries.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"Facebook started small, (with a) humble background -- so (did) Google.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"And I'm quite prepared to put aside S$10 billion to promote (this, and) to give a million dollars each to one or two of (the) 'Facebook or Google generation', the young people.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"PMETs like yourselves, (if) you want to start a new industry, ask the government to give you one million dollars each and you do it for the next few years.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"With S$10 billion, divided by S$1m, then you could have how much ... 10,000 firms. 10,000 you multiply by three or five staff per company, (and for a) small company, you could have 50,000 jobs".</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Mr Tan was asked how his S$60 billion National Regeneration Plan could be financed, to achieve all the suggestions the SDP wants.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">He said the funds can be achieved by selling government assets and drawing from reserves.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"I'm not saying that we take every single dollar from the reserves," Mr Tan said.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"We have, I think the official figure two, three hundred billions, but obviously it's much more than that. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">And I'm only asking for S$60 billion -- not much, small change," he said with a chuckle.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Well, angry doc LOL'd...</em></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BRHsynvGEOmYts1LTVujlI8oWdfgv7Xv1-wgzD1_iR5gv4qacDp8mc057IdR7U5HE94S2dZm6zz1zFQtnbDIlVUFiQ_Wc803QjQPR3_Vb6_IdvzMmHSDcTdDshrJVnHuetwZAA/s1600/6973_strip.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600653861505550418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BRHsynvGEOmYts1LTVujlI8oWdfgv7Xv1-wgzD1_iR5gv4qacDp8mc057IdR7U5HE94S2dZm6zz1zFQtnbDIlVUFiQ_Wc803QjQPR3_Vb6_IdvzMmHSDcTdDshrJVnHuetwZAA/s320/6973_strip.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600653785251304802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdZmIjP6GvFnaheoebs1UjNIHVl0aPaYro8IkGxjvWbrOo_iuA3J1Iz_Fi0gyrFYBnbS4T_LX-fGy43Zp-lSyJLYfQwAKTmV0zqjSxG26biedQhpjOrwDtPWjbPq2dppt9O_rwQ/s320/6974_strip.gif" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9_O8tDMsKIakghYT69in6BFwgKKEbEPMc9Uwx-CrHeE0WpWx52gWg36X4_xwg1wD8taRkd8bB2M-5DqovFt9DQqgJxu0UxUBirUsKtKvn_wCIb9pdOlRtwEEtLzdL3R2lpg8-A/s1600/6975_strip.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600653679947312034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9_O8tDMsKIakghYT69in6BFwgKKEbEPMc9Uwx-CrHeE0WpWx52gWg36X4_xwg1wD8taRkd8bB2M-5DqovFt9DQqgJxu0UxUBirUsKtKvn_wCIb9pdOlRtwEEtLzdL3R2lpg8-A/s320/6975_strip.gif" border="0" /></a></div>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-38475236193242030412011-04-22T20:30:00.000+08:002011-04-22T20:30:02.559+08:00Happy Easter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysgo9PogM7u6Hu6n_YYuHqH_k3Yb0wBtOFoRAceYC1G5up-c6vijS8B3462liSRNhTwdIhUECO9VphkP96ZiqY6XqvNK1iPtTHxZUXiws6kk0qtCeml9vj9WZJOn_GMit1aQiew/s1600/thor-marvel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598382671884968242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysgo9PogM7u6Hu6n_YYuHqH_k3Yb0wBtOFoRAceYC1G5up-c6vijS8B3462liSRNhTwdIhUECO9VphkP96ZiqY6XqvNK1iPtTHxZUXiws6kk0qtCeml9vj9WZJOn_GMit1aQiew/s320/thor-marvel.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-36904923359193234012011-03-14T22:30:00.001+08:002011-03-14T22:30:02.631+08:00Arrogance of ignorance 2<span style="font-size:85%;">(</span><a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/03/arrogance-of-ignorance-2.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">Posted on the Singapore MD blog</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">)</span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-68895222634112936232011-02-25T22:00:00.001+08:002011-02-25T22:01:41.203+08:00Smile<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DfzbVTQE3iw?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-63320414925968104872011-02-15T18:30:00.000+08:002011-02-15T18:30:46.233+08:00A New Low for SMA<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTcCdzbkDhOSz1sGGxawzvrVLuYqcs_XQqPGIv9vON7kAnexLvBq2YtjYdVs1P-8N9myf3OSMoDDKRp3N8Xxoj8-vzZPdxsKFeUScOZzBGlf8KTVTFR2R_F5WuxoFaHCi2Mn_yA/s1600/captain_america.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573861576689809122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 215px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTcCdzbkDhOSz1sGGxawzvrVLuYqcs_XQqPGIv9vON7kAnexLvBq2YtjYdVs1P-8N9myf3OSMoDDKRp3N8Xxoj8-vzZPdxsKFeUScOZzBGlf8KTVTFR2R_F5WuxoFaHCi2Mn_yA/s320/captain_america.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-low-for-sma.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">(Posted on the Singapore MD blog)</span></a><br /><div></div>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-52447021012491656252011-02-14T21:30:00.000+08:002011-02-14T21:30:06.282+08:00"Should doctors check the daily horoscopes of their patients?"<a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/02/should-doctors-check-daily-horoscopes.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">(Posted on the Singgapore MD blog)</span></a>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-48543054482808390662011-02-07T20:00:00.003+08:002011-02-07T20:24:31.938+08:00Lipstick on a Pig 4<span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/02/lipstick-on-pig-4.html">(Posted on the Singapore MD blog)</a></span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-66341798707987182542011-01-27T23:40:00.001+08:002011-01-27T23:40:00.092+08:00Lipstick on a Pig 3<span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://singaporemd.blogspot.com/2011/01/lipstick-on-pig-3.html">(Posted on the Singapore MD blog)</a></span>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15575652.post-2027675225821061442011-01-09T01:00:00.001+08:002011-01-09T00:59:05.846+08:00Lipstick on a Pig 2<span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Reading this letter to the ST Forum...</em></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_621773.html"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>TCM practitioners not exempted from duty to provide proper medical care</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">WE REFER to Dr Ong Siew Chey's letter on Thursday ('Certifying TCM practitioners: It opened Pandora's box'). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Although Western medicine is the mainstream health-care service in Singapore, traditional medicine services such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remain popular and are increasingly gaining public acceptance.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;">The Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Act was enacted to safeguard patients' interests and safety, and to ensure an acceptable standard of TCM practice is maintained.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Singapore does not have double standards regarding medical practice. Every professional group has different qualifications, training requirements and scope of practice. TCM practitioners, by virtue of their training and practice, are not the same as Western medical practitioners. In the same way, nurses, pharmacists and other health-care professionals are also different. Therefore, not all health-care professionals could be viewed in the same way.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">China's health-care practices and regulatory frameworks are different from Singapore's due to its historical and political development. While we have taken reference from China in the way TCM is regulated here, we are also developing our brand of regulatory framework, as Singapore is one of the first countries outside of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to regulate TCM.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">We have much to learn and a long way to go, as the regulatory framework for TCM is still in the infancy stage compared to the regulatory framework for Western medicine. As a matter of fact, the current Singapore TCM regulatory framework has taken reference from the regulatory framework as set out in the Medical Registration Act and the Dentists Act, in particular, with regard to the disciplinary powers of the TCM Practitioners Board over TCM practitioners.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;">This is not a case where TCM practitioners enjoy any exemption from their obligation to provide proper and adequate medical care. If any TCM practitioner is found guilty of misconduct or improper behaviour, he will be dealt with by the TCM Practitioners Board.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">We thank Dr Ong for his feedback, and welcome feedback and ideas from the TCM community, the health-care family and the public to make our TCM regulatory framework one of the best in the world.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Chuo-Ng Peck Hiang (Mrs)</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Executive Secretary for Registrar</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>TCM Practitioners Board</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>reminded me of </em></span><a href="http://angrydr.blogspot.com/2009/10/medium-register.html"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>this post I wrote</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> more than a year ago.</em></span><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Now Mrs Chuo-Ng is factually correct in many of the statements she made: TCM is "popular and... increasingly gaining public acceptance", the TCM Registration Act is largely based on the same framework the Medical Registration Act and the Dentists Act, and TCM practitioners are subject to penalties if they are "found guilty of misconduct or improper behaviour".</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">But those points do not change the fundamental fact that TCM is a pseudoscience the theory and practice of which are not based on evidence, and that no amount of legislation or regulation is going to make it so. To want to "regulate" TCM before we can even demonstrate the existence of 'qi' is as ridiculous a notion as that of having a medium registry before we can proof that spirits or deities exist.</span></em>angry dochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03132410467147982699noreply@blogger.com4