The first encounter...

...with the health-care system here. Aiyoh.

As part of J's registration in nursery school, we had to get him physically checked out by a doctor; and both he and I had to have a TB screening (I have to get screened because of the volunteer days I'm supposed to put in with the school). Sigh.

We went to a "urgent care" centre, which is basically a place where you can just walk in to see a doctor (instead of going to a hospital's ER). We waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. For over two hours!!! Argh. For something as simple as getting the once-over by a doctor. When it finally gets to our turn, it takes like five minutes for everything to get done. We had to pay US$50 for J and US$105 for me. That's just the consultation fee, the TB tests cost more.

BUT later we find out we didn't even get to see a doctor, the guy who checked J out was a physician's assistant! And I don't even know why I had to pay the $105, since all he did was ask me why I needed a TB test. Nothing else.

Aiyoh. I tell you, it was such a frustrating experience. So I understand why people here self-medicate a lot.