Mike'smusings -medical Care

[Mike Farrell]

A major factor in deciding where to live should be the proximity togood medical care and facilities. If the wife doesn't drive, forget anambulance, how long will it take for a taxi to reach you and get you to a hospital?My experiences with my family and reports from friends have been extremely positive regarding medical care in CDO. The doctors are great. Nursing care leaves a lot to be desired. They are just putting their time in while their overseas applications arebeing processed. Pay as you go is often a problem, so be prepared for it. In many cases,it requires a security deposit before admittance, and cash on hand forprescriptions and even "normal" medical supplies. I was aghast at the "requirement" for a "watcher", until I discovered that Filipino families use hospitalization as a social event. I checked into a local hospital for an overnight stay for a comprehensive physical. "Where's your watcher?" "I don't have one." "Where's your wife?" "Home where she is supposed to be, taking careof the children." "Oh."That evening, a nurse came in, handed me a written perscription and said, "The doctor wants you to take this." I asked her to pour a glassof water for me, tore off a piece of the perscription, put it in my mouth and started chewing it. She grabbed the rest of the perscription from my hand, stormed out, and returned later with the medication. Life is simple, if you don't take it seriously._________________Mike Farrell First Sergeant of Marines Retired and Reincarnated in the Philippines Cagayan de Oro