Heathcare cost 2

From our esteemed Health Minister. Here.

This is how healthcare costs will rise. How can you ask for a "will not cause death" warranty for a vaccine? Many important drugs, present and in the past have caused death before, either directly or indirectly. For example many antibiotics are associated with fatal idiosyncratic reactions. How can one guarantee a vaccine is 100% safe???

If I'm the supplier, my response would be "I cannot guarantee 100% safety for any drug/vaccine. Take it or leave it. Your choice."

I think statements like these are uncalled for. In medicine, it as ALWAYS benefits vs risks. Many new drugs or vaccine although have passed phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials will still need post marketing surveillance. Many new side effects are found during the post marketing surveillance. Unless you want a trial to run for decades /centuries to ensure long term safety before marketing. Then again which company will develop a drug/vaccine which needs decades of clinical trial? It doesn't make economic sense. Even if they would, the costs would be exorbitant and ultimately passed down to consumers.

What next? Will he be saying "I want a 100% warranty this treatment will not cause death or else I'll sue". Anybody wants to treat him?

I'm a bit worried with this Health Minister.

Then our DG said this.
I have no qualms doing any test/every test for any/every patient. If the patient is paying for it, no problem. But who is paying for it? Can the country cope with all the demands? Financially and physically? Does it make economic sense to screen everyone with mild, self limiting symptoms? I say since the DG says so, just take the swab-lah for everybody. I just wonder, what if the many overly worried public lie about their symptoms, if any, just to get tested? After all it's "free"!

Just don't ask me when the specimen collection kit is depleted or if your result is still not ready after a month. Ask the DG.

Another example on how to raise healthcare costs. Clinical judgement goes down the drain.

I'm also a bit worried with this DG.