Beggers ARE Choosers

As doctors, not only do we treat illnesses, very often we have to attend to the social needs of our patients. As with everything in medical science, we gave it a name and called it holistic care.

Doc: Mr Tan, so how are you.

Patient: Ok loh, this new medicine very expensive leh.

Doc: You need this medicine, all the old ones didn't work for you. So how? Found a job?

Patient: The one the social worker recommend no good lah.

Doc: Why?

Patient: Wah lau, ask me to be cleaner. So smelly and dirty.

Doc: How about security guard, I know they got lots of openings.

Patient: Wah lau, lagi jialat, 12 hrs shift wor! How to tahan.

Doc: What do you want to do then?

Patient: Mebbe something got aircon like office work that kind and pay must be more than $2000. But I don't know computer leh.

Doc: Are you getting any financial aid from CDC?

Patient: $400 dollars lah. My brothers also gimme some money loh.

Doc: So enough?

Patient: Wah lau, nowadays where got enough? Go Geylang one time all finish liao! Wah lau why now medicine all so expensive? Can cheaper or not?

Doc: Your medicine is more expensive because it is new. The prices are set by MOH.....

Patient: But you doctor mah, why you never go ask gahmen to make it cheaper??? Its your responsibility!

Dear gahmen, my patient wants me to tell you (apparently my responsibility to do so) that he cannot afford his medications because he spent all his financial aid in Geylang probably for the purpose of hookers, booze and of course smoking.

Thank you!