Saving costs instead of lives

By: By Llew-Ann Phang (Dec 12, 2010) 

PETALING JAYA (Dec 12, 2010): Budgetary issues are the biggest stumbling block to saving lives.

During housemanship at government hospitals, doctors are repeatedly told that they have to be careful with money and save costs, rather than lives.

Because of this, doctors have to stinge on life-saving treatment sometimes, claim doctors who spoke to theSun on condition of anonymity.

“Even oncologists may not prescribe drugs that could reduce the size of cancerous tumours (due to the cost factor),” said a government physician.

If an oncologist prescribes drugs such Herceptin (for breast cancer treatment) and Avastin (for colon cancer) – which are often acquired at exorbitant costs – patients would have to fork out their life-savings to to pay for the treatment.

Often, civil servants are found emptying their pockets, re-mortgaging their houses and breaking their backs to front up money for cancer treatment before they are reimbursed by the Public Services Department (PSD) -- months later.

Often, oncologists who stay long enough in government hospitals find themselves following bureaucracy and wasting a lot of time trying to obtain aid for patients who cannot afford medication.

“We are wasting a lot of time going through forms and answering telephone calls asking if we have drugs, and writing to charities,” said one doctor.

Chemotherapy, which costs between RM4,000 and RM5,000 for a  three-week course of treatment with older drugs, can cost up to RM25,000 with new medicines.

 “There are a handful of drugs that increase the chance of survival of cancel patients but at the moment patients do not have access to them.

“While we are on track to achieving the developed nation status where infrastructure is concerned, we are doing very poorly in the health department, even on the doctor-to-patient ratio,” lamented a semi-government hospital source.

There are only 60 oncologists in Malaysia serving an ever-increasing number of cancer patients.

The National Cancer Registry recorded 21,773 individuals at the last count but medical practitioners believe the real figures are close to double the number.

“The allocations for health run out very quickly and there is no ready access to money, especially for patients who are in dire need of medication.

“People are reluctant to ask. We don’t have strong lobby groups to push for money because most people are afraid to speak up,” said one doctor.

Practitioners say political will is need for the ministry to take a more “creative” approach to help both patients and the medical fraternity.

“Where patients are concerned, an independent body can be set up to assess patients' financial background so that they can pay whatever they can afford, thus freeing up money for patients who really are in need of a chance to have a longer life,” said the doctor.

Met recently, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said healthcare accounts for RM11 billion of the annual budget but admitted that at times red tape takes over from common sense.

“My stand has always been 'do anything to save a life',” Liow said, adding that he is looking into the problem. -- theSun

Credit Transfers

We have had a few questions from students on pre tertiary credit transfers. We hope this guide clears some of the smog surrounding your opportunities.

There are many pre tertiary programmes for students who finish their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia [SPM] examinations. Its quite an alphabet soup with A's, SAM, AUSMAT, CPU and STPM's. A Levels are generally from the English pedigree with Cambridge [CIE] and the London Boards [Edexcel]. SAM and AUSMAT are the Australian pre tertiary pathway. CPU is Canadian while locally we have STPM and Matriculations for government Universities. Alas there is the effervescent foundation which in our case is accepted in the United Kingdom, Australia and many other countries; Malaysia included.

According to the Malaysian Qualifications Agency [MQA] these pre tertiary programmes are equivalent for entry qualifications to degree programmes. Thus students who study A Levels have broadly the same opportunities of entering a degree programme as students who have done STPM or Foundation. There are certainly some universities that stipulate their own individual recognitions but broadly they are equal, though we opine that the specialization afforded for the foundations make it just a notch ahead; primus inter pares if you will.

Following this logic a student who is studying the A Levels and would like to improve his/her mark or re-sit an exam can do so with SAM or a Foundation. The mapping of the syllabus for the foundation for example accords to the other pre tertiary programmes allowing students to fit nicely even though they had done other programmes. This is easier in the sciences where there are finite parameters, biology has to be biology anywhere and anyhow.

What is important is that a students complete the required credit hours that are stipulated. You can check this with us for your individual programmes.

Students thus with other pre tertiary results can look to the foundation as an alternative to retaking or re-siting their exams. This may be advantageous from the point of view of our exam time tables rather than waiting and wasting time. Another reason may be a fresh experience to counter the reasons for your challenges in other programmes. We find that often its never the programmes at fault but rather whether a student can sync to the system and structure of a programme. Its always a question of suitability. We also find that many students choose us due to our clear pathway to seats at Universities and our focus in preparing students for First Year.

So if you choose a pre tertiary and you are having trouble with it, remember that you are not stuck and you can opt for a change to better suit your academic preferences.  

Looking forward

'Life is one foot in front of the other'

We once had a prominent guest speaker over and with all the pre hype for his presence, we were just waiting for pearls of wisdom to be meted out and gloss our lives...but that was all we got.....life is one foot in front of the other. Huh?!

Then grapes turned into wine and as the saying aged, it made more sense to a point that it became profound. Yes you may say that we internally hyped it in the shadow of the speaker but try this for size...

When we finish SPM a smart ass college like ours will tell you that you have over 180 programmes over 9 countries at least to choose from. Not an easy choice, its not really a buffet when your life, career and happiness is at stake. How does one choose?

Well we have a formula that goes something like, 1.what you like doing 2.consider what you're good at    3.look at financial possibilities 4.consider the career [demand/prospects/revenue] 5.review the solution socially and psychologically - we usually assist you to get a path by then.

Still those doubts creep in don't they. What if?... And then we turn to every piece of information from sources good, bad and ugly which totally mess up our belief in the path. This happens when we try and digest too much. Take it one step at a time, one foot in front of the other. As long as you keep moving, don't stay still and be open to change evolution dictates that you should stand a better chance. Pick a programme that has the flexibility to give you choices and make those choices as you go along.

The notion that you sit still plan it all then move has never worked. Experience will tell, that you move in the general direction of your dreams with preparation and a plan of what you want but the exact decisions at made at the points it need be made. Have a pre set determined goal but never set the path to it or you will miss out on opportunities that present itself. Take like one foot in front of the other and evaluate each step along the way.

Every step presents a new evaluation of how things are. For example, advanced maths isn't as fun as the basics were, now biology seem appealing; well reassess with the formula above and move; change!. So don't prejudge life evaluate it one foot at a time.

At the point of foundation many successful students have changed universities or even career paths at this juncture by this reassessment.  They suddenly found that they could pursue medicine, that there were affordable paths, that they did finally like biology [the lecturers help ;)] and they would suit the lifestyle at a highly ranked competitive university, they were good enough, developing one foot at a time.

Give yourself the opportunity to find yourself during the pre u [foundation]. Don't decide without being informed, take it one foot at a time. You'll realize that with the right uni, degree and career you will soar.

So thats the pearl that we never got at the time. Judge life and make decisions one foot at a time. Prepare ahead the dreams you seek and research a path that gives you opportunity and flexibility. Then take it one foot at a time evaluate every step of the way, ask yourself am i happy in this path. Demand happiness and you'll get it.

Ask us. We have explored every crevice and path imaginable. Get all the information you need from us to make the best life decision in small steps.

So keep moving ahead, never stop and keep evaluating for happiness; one foot at a time.

It is not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives, it is one that is most adaptable to change - darwin


Things that seem hard are not always that hard. Put one foot in front of the other, and you’ll get to the end. - unknown

Forecast results

Many see the forecast as a mere stepping stone to what the SPM might entail, but the humble forecast is capable of so much more. A forecast result allows students to attend the January intakes of colleges and universities instead of the march or post march intakes. To many thats a mere three months of well deserved R & R [rest and relaxation] time but it may mean that you lose out on the chance of graduating a year earlier. Yes 3 months may equal 1 year of losses.

This is because when you factor the exam dates for pre tertiary programmes and intakes for undergraduate University programmes, many a time students miss out on intake dates, scholarship applications [which open and close early] as well as registrations for the best classes and accommodation. Students in the January intake are able to get the best deals and often enter an intake earlier which translates to saving 1 year or more overall.

This entry comes with the help of the humble forecast. Students and parents though, sometimes worry, about problems in the real SPM results, due march, [eg shortage of credits] which may hamper progress in a January Intake. If you dont get enough entry qualifications, then time and money is wasted not to mention the emotional and psychological effects.

However many colleges like ours have bridging programmes in situations like these for students to top up their credits without leaving the course or wasting time by skipping intakes. For us, best of all, the bridging programmes are free. Think of it like extra tuition that you need not pay for.

Another fear is whether the programme chosen is the right one since a career is not for the next 4-5 years of studying but also includes the next 30-40 years of working. We recommend here to choose a pre tertiary programme that gives you the widest options for your degree and university so a change can be arranged where necessary. Many programmes limit your options to a very few degrees and universities and that may hamper your progress later on. Get the best that you can, for the money and qualifications that you have.

By doing this, you get to save time by studying and deciding what to do at the same time. Moreover your decision becomes an informed decision since within the duration of the programme [eg our foundation or a levels] you'll be exposed to many different subject matter, degree options and guest lecturers on careers. This allows you to really and truly know what your options entail before your decide what to do by the end of your programme. This experience is much better than lying on your couch with an Ipad imagining what your career will be like. Experience it first before deciding; to mitigate a risk of mistake.

We do all we can to ensure that you get to the right choice, one that will give you what you seek in life as well as being recognized and accredited.

So get that humble forecast out and make it work for you. As always if you need help call us.

SPM Examinations

We want to wish all students the best and all our blessing in your SPM examinations.

Like our sms blast said 'you must dream, plan and believe!' At this point please remember that your success is a mind game and if you master that, the world will be at your feet. We'll make sure of that because we help put it there for so many students. Believe that in this month your efforts will reverberate for years to come, so give it your all, give it your best and let us help you do the rest.