3rd party

Driving along the coastal road

First, I was disapponted because I was not able to get the original drug company to sponsor my study. Thinking that the drug was cheap, I wrote to the company to give me the drug price, as I might want to look for alternative sponsors.

This was the email reply I got:

"However the quotation for the total cost of 'Drug A' required is being prepared. I would like to apologize for the delay. I cannot personally quote you on the price and the Bumi agent is yet to forward their quotation to us."

So, I found out that each tablet of the medication cost RM1, giving a total of RM13,000 for my study drug, what a big sum for my humble small study!

With the current unpredictable economy, who would sponsor that sum of money?

So now, we knew the reason why drugs are so expensive.

I could not even get the direct supply from the original company, thus cutting cost.

Sentosa

A late night dinner cum supper.

While my research protocol has not been completed, another hurdle on the way. Everything is about money. Using some assessment tool on diseases by some questionaires also need some damn license costing RM5000.

Medical researches are so commercialized.

Sigh, and sigh again.

JB Best 8

RM6.90

I actually like the setting more than the food.

Just Chicken

Two different faces, when seen from two views.

Taken from the Science Centre.

Sometimes, I try not to mention anything about work but heck.

I know people cannot accept critisms and don't want to hear anything negative about our public healthcare service but that is the truth.

It was all about chicken pox.

A poor girl had chicken pox. She was seen by a 'senior' MO in OPD and was admitted to the medical ward as her platelet count was 'lowish', i.e. 168. She was kept for two days and was presumed seen by the physician. She was discharged with "T. Acyclovir 400mg QID".

A referral was made to the skin specialist the next day after discharge.

By right, chicken pox is just a common and self-limited infectious disease but she was given the "run around" by the people who had spent 5 years in the med schools and yet practiced sub-standard medical practices.

I am more convinced now that our healthcare system is fulled of less inteligent people with peanut brains.

Poor girl, she couldn't even complain.

The last thing I asked whether she was given MC.

She said, no, because when she requested it upon discharge from ward, she was told by the nurse, "No more doctors in the ward".

It was only 5pm++.

Puteri

The hotel I stayed when I first came here.

Pg Rojak

At the pasar malam over Rainbow City.

From north to south

Just got the quotation from the company that was not keen to sponsor my clinical study. The original drug cost RM1 per tablet, giving the total cost of RM13, 000, as I need 13K tablets.

Sigh.

I just don't care now.

Guess, I better stick to generic, after all, the study that I want to do reflects on normal clinical practice.

My next step is to get through the ethical committee.

LowYat

Here is the biggest IT mall I went to, even bigger than the Southern one.
Finally, got this USB speaker for RM29.90

Luckily I didn't buy it during last PC fair, it was all bullshit. It was sold for RM59 during the fair.

Kingston 4G pendrive is sold for RM38. Inflation.

Jap Steamboat

At last, had this Jap Steamboat buffet again in Bandar Puteri.
Need to book 3 hours in advance.

RM19.90 per pax

JB Best7

My favorite ayam masak halia with white rice at Larkin.

RM3.50

Sutera

Had lunch at Sutera Mall with view of the beautiful landscape.

Tmn Merdeka

Nice place to relax here, with the smell of the fresh lake water.

I was treated for a buffet lunch today. RM12.90 per person.
The food sucks, not recommended.

Life in Rainbow City

Another angle at the busiest junction in the heart of the city.

Top of the world

I didn't know it was such beautiful at the top of the world, cause I didn't attempt to see far and beyond.

All this while I was imprisoned in a 50 sq feet ISA detention cubicle.

What a magnificent view of the Tebrau Strait.

One won't be surprised the land of the Merlion if just a swimming distance.

Life is never that straight though.

Even the collapsed grand old lady is ressurected very soon.

Expected date of delivery (EDD) in July.
I am counting.

Danga City

Despite open for near one year, the response from shoppers has not been good.

Blame it on Feng Shui?
But yet, this is just a very nice place to shop, to walk and window shop, during a short lunch break.

Devoid of all scenes of hectic daily life.

One can also catch a train ride to Tanjung Pagar from here.

Most importantly, it is FREE parking here, one will never find elsewhere in the heart of the city.

Pasar Malam

It is never my principle of asking favour from unrelated people, even more so from pharmaceutical companies.

Nevertheless, I am going to embark on a short-term clinical study involving some common drug. Since this is a self-funded one, I have written in to a company to inquire about the possibility of sponsorship for the drug.

I was a bit dismayed as the company was not keen to sponsor the said drug, with the reasons, it was not their major product and it has since available in generic.

Can't really blame them because we are not using their product in our daily clinical practice anyway.

But then, it is beyond our control, because the physicians don't control the drugs.

By right, that should not bother me very much as I can be assure of getting the generic ones.

However, since I am conducting a clinical study, I must as well use an original drug.

By the way, I just found out that eight of our patients are using their biological products costing a near RM60 K a year per patient.

I am dissapointed because the drug that I requested is nothing compare to the cost of those biologics.

Looked like, they are not interested because it does not benefit them commercially in any other way.

Perhaps, we shall also stop buying other drugs from them since there are other major players in the market.

3 more pasar malam to go

Science centre

Some pic taken in recent trip to the science Centre.

SD6.00 per entry.

Last Marathon

It is a marathon today.

WiFi

Time flies.
Luckily the A&E is Wifi-ed.
Not too bored.
Hope this could be the last one, though I'm gonna miss it.

At work

Running out of time

Hard at work.

And I am counting.

JB Best 6

RM1.20

Nice vegetarian pau @ Pelangi night market.

JB Best 5

Who say nice Kolo Mee must have lard or Char Siew?

Well, it seemed the best Kolo Mee I'd ever eaten over here turned out to be from a Muslim store, I bet, beats S'wak Kolo Mee to shame.

RM3.00 (Ordinary one)

The 'Special' one with marinated chicken was so havenly mouth watering, unfortunately was always sold out when we reached there by 12.30pm.

Char Mee, RM4.00

For one who misses out the Kolo Mee Special, can opt for this equally superb specialty noodle with the very tender marinated chicken.

Check out this little store at Hutan Bandar, but go before 12pm, before it is invaded by the school kids when the school session is over.

Kukup

We actually ended up in this place by accident.

We missed the left turning to Piai and ended up at the end of the road to a place, which is haven for seafood lovers.

Kukup is actually a Chinese fishing village.

There are many seafood restaurents over here, and of course mainly Chinese. Many came in big families and were seen having some big feasts on the table with all kind of exotic seafood, making a scene reminded me of Bukit Tambun.

The jetty over here is also the boat terminal for Indonesians travel to and fro from Pulau Kerimon. We were told the boat ride cost about RM90. An immigration office is also located here to facilitate visitors.

Opposite this end is a small island made entirely of mangrove swamp and jungle, took us less than a 5 mintues boat ride costing RM5.

Entry to this national park cost another RM5. Someone advised us against going there as there would not be much thing to see other than 'trees'.

Nevertheless, since we were already there, why not just spend another 'once in a life time'?

I was told there could be snakes around, but I was disappointed to just see small crabs and sea shells.

Well, there was just another fun of walking past this hanging bridge just for the feel of it, nothing so great about it, but heck, I was here for once.

The boat ride actually included trip to some fish farms located between the mainland and the island. We were shown some of the fishes rear in captivity like giant Garoupa, shark and some interesting 'spitting' fish (unsure of name).

Manglobe

Piai.

So, I was here in Tanjung Piai National Park yesterday with a friend. I wouldn't have ventured this far without his accompany.

RM5 per entry

It was just a mangrove swamp, but a very nice place to chill out.

Quite a long runaway.

This is a nice place to retreat and fishing too. But, for those who are more adventurous, this place may not be that exciting.

But then, just a life time, while I am here.

Manglobe

If Merlion the iconic statue of Singapore, then this little Piai globe should be the icon of Johor.

I am finally

Here, at the southern most tip of the mainland Asia.

Pelangi

The heart of the city.

AnuarZ

This weekend there are some cheap sales going on. First, there is Jusco sales in Bk Indah as well as Metrojaya sales at DangaCity.

There is also an exhibition on local products.
But I was not here to buy the local products, but to watch AnuarZ's free performance tonight.
What a powerful performance, even though it was only for 30 minutes.
I am a fan of him and it was nice to see him in real person.
It worth the waiting, though not entirely free. 4 bucks for the parking.