Money Talks : Transforming and restructuring healthcare to save cost – does it work?

The often given reason to transform and re-structure is money. It is often said that we are spending too much on health (3.6% of GDP in 2007 and 7% of total country expenditure). So we must cut down. For some reason, the rationale for this escapes me. We are hoping to spend even less and hoping to get better or equivalent healthcare. In others words, we wish to live longer and better while cutting down expenditure. I suppose the only way is to cut down the “leakages” in the system.

Anyway, the Government is looking at cutting down healthcare expenditure, saying that it can no longer afford to spend so much on healthcare. It is almost universal that when governments look to save healthcare cost, they turn to organisations to manage medical care for an agreed sum of money. So the government will set aside a certain amount of money (let’s say RM30bil), and ask the business managers to control healthcare spending.



What is the worldwide experience with SHIO?

In one simple word, BAD. In the US, some MCOs have, after collecting the money, defaulted and declared bankruptcy. MCOs have not done much good in the US. They are about to reform to come nearer to our system, if politics allow, with a public option. The UK-NHS system is full of shortcomings. There is still a waiting-list. Ask Singapore’s Minister Mentor about his experience when his wife fell ill in UK. That is why many from the UK and US come over to Thailand, India, South Africa, Singapore, and some to Malaysia, to get healthcare (medical tourism).

A Brilliant Company

I have been reading books on the stocks and to learn how to interpret financial reports in the newspapers. Also, I have recently open an online share trading account with Public Bank but am not in a hurry to trade yet until I know all the facts and figures and how to make money from the stock market. It is important to know how to read the charts and predict bull runs to make a gain. I plan to be a fundamental analysis investor or long term investor and not short term investor or also known as technical analysis investor.

There are ways to create alternative energy from waste. This is a brilliant idea that not many people are aware of. You might like to know that a company by the name of N-Viro International Corporation develops and licenses its technology to municipalities and private companies. Their patented processes use lime and/or mineral-rich, combustion byproducts to treat, pasteurize, immobilize and convert wastewater sludge and other bio-organic wastes into biomineral agricultural and soil-enrichment products with real market value. The company has generated sales in excess of $40 million dollars, since its initial public offering in October of 1993. With this huge share market capitalization, no wonder investors are ever ready to put in their money and faith in this brilliant idea and trust this company to deliver more profits. Their web site is at http://www.nviro.com where you can browse for more details.

Most youth yearn to be millionaires before they are 35

An online survey has revealed that 96% of today’s youth aspire to become millionaires and three-quarters of them believe that they can by age 35. They also indicated that this was the most important goal in their lives.

The Sunday Star survey “So you want to be a millionaire?” with YouthSays and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman polled 1,678 people below the age of 30 thoughout the country. The 96% figure is significantly higher than that expected by some financial planners.

Securities Commission-licensed financial planner Rajen Devadason said: “I’m surprised such a high proportion of respondents want to be millionaires. In my own experience, it is usually in the 60% to 70% range.”He pointed out that most of the respondents were between 18 and 27 years and at that age, most people usually did not think too much about their future.

“They are busy living for the exciting present,” he said. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s children and youth psychology specialist Dr Khaidzir Ismail, however, said the findings showed that those surveyed had high self-esteem.

“At least they have the motivation even if the goal is not easy to achieve,” he said. “I believe that if they are given the opportunity and shown the way, they will achieve it.” Rajen, however, found it disturbing that 75% of the respondents said to become a millionaire was the single most important thing in their lives. “It is soul-damaging,” he added.

Help University College vice-president and psychologist Dr Goh Chee Leong said that while a big number aspired to be millionaires, only about half agreed that it would make them happier. Dr Goh said he was pleased that only a minority (25%) would be willing to give up ethics to be become a millionaire.

He also pointed out some conflicts within the respondents. “On one hand, they say it is the most important thing in their life, but at the same time, they are not willing to sacrifice family time or social life.”

Dr Khaidzir said this might be due to idealism on the part of the respondents. “Usually millionaires will have no time for family or social life,” he said. “The respondents are still young and may have a different perception of how things should work.”

As for the most important factor to becoming a millionaire, 47% believed that it all boiled down to chance and opportunities – being at the right place at the right time. Only 34% believed it was due to hard work and determination.

“They might have a fatalistic view of wealth acquisition. It’s a case of whatever will be will be,” said Dr Goh. “It almost sounds as if they are not in control of whatever they can achieve or not.” To another question, only 25% of the respondents said they would marry someone just to become a millionaire.

“This shows the majority of respondents believe in true love,” said Dr Goh. As for the respondents’ idols, among the common names listed were Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Tan Sri Anandha Krishnan, Tan Sri Robert Kuok and Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.

Got Direct Offer to Write Articles

Just 2 days ago, I received 2 direct offers to write articles for a client on watches. After submitting the articles, he rated them as excellent! And the next day, I got my payment of USD16.50 in my account. It was instant and very fast. I no longer log in to check if there are any more writing assignments as I am too lazy to write these few months. And the hot weather does not help in the mood to work harder but to nap upstairs and turn on the air con, under my silk comforters from China. I don't know why but this year is certainly one of the hottest in my entire life. And I refuse to stay outdoors for too long.

Spending Money Feels So Good

Yesterday, I bought myself a pair of Bonia slippers for RM199 without any discount! That's because those were new arrival and are comfort shoes. I am too lazy to go to Bata in Tesco to check out their prices since I hardly patronize Tesco but instead go to Gurney Plaza almost every night. Hence it makes sense to buy from Gurney Plaza instead. And it certainly feels so good to be able to afford something for myself as I am working from home earning a comfortable income - both in my full time job and also moonlighting work part time. I can afford a restaurant meal anytime I want or go for overseas holidays now like Europe or New Zealand. And they cost in the region of RM7,000++ per person for twin sharing. I need a friend to go with or someone I can get along so that the trip will be more enjoyable. Spending money certainly feels so good when you know more will be coming month after month. And I save more than I spend nowadays. This is to ensure that my retirement years will be golden years for me and not woeful years unlike for a certain blogger and ex-supervisor that I dislike - also known as M16.

Make Money Online by Buying Gold

Making money online is possible for some while it is so difficult for others. It can be done successfully if you know how. For instance, you can go to the web site to buy gold bullion from the internet by opening an account and reading more on how to invest online. Investment is another form to earn money just like trading in the share market, commodities, precious metals and raw materials. As for me, I will stick to my own proven methods to make a living off the internet. In the past, I have also freelance as a web designer and graphics editor plus using Macromedia Flash for animations like banners, buttons and a full Flash web site. Of course you need to equip yourself with skills like the above before clients approach you as a freelancer. You also need to showcase your work through your personal domain web site like I did the last time.

Got paid to Rewrite 2 articles

Just recently, I got paid RM180.00 for re-writing 2 articles on health. The client emailed me directly after reading my blogs and discovered that I also offer writing services. The money was easy cash and it does not take much time to re-write the articles as I can work quite fast. I charged RM90 per article and I must say this is one of the easiest job I got offered. And I recently spend hundred of dollars in Hatyai over Chinese New Year - spending on 4 bras, 7 panties, toiletries, 3 bottles of skin care serum, body scrub, body wash and 1.5kg cashew nuts for friends and families. That is the incentive of working hard by the computer to spend the money that I have earned online and offline in my home office. This is so much better than working for others especially a moron for a supervisor who cheated the company of honest working hours in Eagle Carpets the last time!