Rest in Peace Sir

This morning, SJMC mourned the passing of a truly great colleague, Dr Sabri. A pioneer Neurologist, he lost a long battle against cancer although he was still at work last Ramadhan.

Unfortunately I was on call today and was unable to attend his funeral scheduled for this lunch time. Many of his colleagues attended to him during his last illness and he was still a gentleman even though we realized that things were not going to plan.

He met his Maker this morning and the mood during the morning round was a somber one. He was much loved at the hospital and everybody wishes his family condolences, and Dr Sabri to be in Jannah. Alfatihah.

GST

The topic on everybody's mind at the hospital lately had been GST. Or Goods and Services Tax. Akin to the VAT in the UK. Will we as Doctors be affected by this new ruling?

The management got the Consultants from Ernest and Young in to brief is on the impact it would have on us. It appeared that we would be exempted. It may sound good initially but that carried some major draw back. It seemed that we would not be able to charge our customers GST for services but we were subjected to GST for rentals and equipment. Not exactly fair wasn't it.

The ruling had yet to be tested, and there would be uncertainty at the beginning. Some teething problems. Praying that in the end things would work out for the better.

Looking Good

No, I was not admiring my looks, but was staring at the new MediPlex being built right next to my ward. SJMC decided to build an annex after all these years. The project was delayed at the basement level for the last few years and the building only started to take shape from last year.

There would be new restaurants and medical-related services being set up. But the most important aspect of the whole project as far as I was concerned was the transfer of the rehab department to the new building. That would create space for the Oncology Unit to expend and in the next couple of years, I would have my clinic transferred across there.

It may cause some issues at the beginning as I might have to see some of my General Medical patients there as well, but hopefully things could be ironed out by then.

Words had it that the building would be transferred to the management as early as next month, and the internal renovation would start to take place after that before the transfer of the Rehab and Laboratory Departments. Expect more commotion in the coming year ....

Back to Work

First day back to work after the protracted weekend and I was on call today. The last call - of four - during this Ramadan. The next one would be in the middle of next month.

Slow start, seeing my patients in the ward before setting off to Park City. Just finished off the clinic there - the last patient just called to reschedule - and an ICU referral, and it was time to dump my stuff at the apartment before heading back to Subang for an afternoon clinic and start of the call.

Looks like there's going to be some construction going on ...Anita would be dropping by with food for berbuka later. I've already stocked in for sahur, and tomorrow would be my weekly no-clinic day. Hopefully the call would be kind to my weary body - both physically and mentally. ‎

The Sky is Blue

The haze which threatened to come looked to have dissipated somewhat, but the heat was still felt. A welcomed changed as I could really smelled the fumes in the air last Monday.

But the relief was thought to be short-lived. With the hot weather predicted during the Ramadan, it might return.

Let's pray that that would be later rather than soon. ‎