How Taiwan transformed its health care system • Hacker News Board

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#11

Post by mc32 » Sun, Dec 31, 2017, 2:23 AM UTC

temp wrote: post #10

mc32 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's missing the antecedent. So for this to make sense in Eng it should read: Taiwan, in contrast, revamped its [own|healthcare|something] top to bottom. Otherwise it looks like "Taiwan, in contrast, revamped its [top] [to [the] bottom]."

> It's missing the antecedent. So for this to make sense in Eng it should read: It's not missing the antecedent, it's near the end of the previous sentence, just like the other person you replied to said. Singapore, which we wrote about in October, tinkers with its health care system all the time. Taiwan, in contrast, revamped its top to bottom. The its clearly refers to health care system from the previous sentence.

True enough. It's just not common usage to use "its" as an absolute possessive like that. Whereas other possessives lend themselves to that usage.

In other words it's typically used as a possessive determiner in this construction.

It's somewhat similar to the following:

-Have you eaten?

-Yes, I've.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#12

Post by peterburkimsher » Sun, Dec 31, 2017, 2:49 AM UTC

Culture helps - everyone here wants to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer.

Taiwanese doctors don't get paid in money.

They get paid "credits" which have to be exchanged for money based on a parallel financial system.

Foreigners here sometimes complain that there's a focus on seeing more patients faster, so there might be a misdiagnosis or a less thorough examination.

The fact remains though - it's cheaper to fly here to have a wisdom tooth removed (without insurance) than the same operation would cost in Switzerland or the US. There isn't much resentment of medical tourism either - so, you're all welcome to visit!

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#13

Post by dustinmoorenet » Sun, Dec 31, 2017, 3:08 AM UTC

While visiting my in-laws in Taiwan (Taichung City), My son slipped on the floor and busted his head just above the eye. We took him to the ER. He got 7 stitches and occupied an ER bed for 4 hours while the drugs they used to put him under wore off. We paid after we were released. It came out to about $200 US total, without insurance. We got back to Austin a week later and had the stitches removed, which cost us $60, with insurance. Our kid's doctor, who removed the stitches, said they were beautifully done.

Taiwan's healthcare system is not perfect, but at least I don't have to worry about it. It is good AND affordable.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#14

Post by arcticbull » Sun, Dec 31, 2017, 3:40 AM UTC

I was visiting Taiwan a few years ago, and one of my friends busted open his lip. We went to the ER in Taipei (without insurance) and they saw him within an hour or so, prescribed some antibiotics, filled the prescription on site and sent him on his way. Total bill was under $20USD all in.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#15

Post by whatyoucantsay » Sun, Dec 31, 2017, 4:30 AM UTC

Taiwan does indeed have world class health care despite having an exceedingly low tax rate by western standards.

But lets not overlook the elephant in the room.

Taiwan is an island full of thin people who eat rice or noodles at almost every meal. Millions of people still shop primarily at traditional markets and millions of others follow Buddhist diets that would be mocked by western "diet hackers". Only in the past generation has it really begun adopting, and suffering the effects of, western eating habits.

If Taiwanese people ate like Americans and drove everywhere, their health care system would have become bankrupt years ago.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#16

Post by 35bge57dtjku » Sun, Dec 31, 2017, 4:43 AM UTC

whatyoucantsay wrote: post #15

Taiwan does indeed have world class health care despite having an exceedingly low tax rate by western standards. But lets not overlook the elephant in the room. Taiwan is an island full of thin people who eat rice or noodles at almost every meal. Millions of people still shop primarily at traditional markets and millions of others follow Buddhist diets that would be mocked by western "diet hackers". Only in the past…

That's quite a claim.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#17

Post by anonymous_fun » Sun, Dec 31, 2017, 4:50 AM UTC

My Taiwanese relatives and wife see the US healthcare system as a big PITA, and from what I have seen of both sides, I agree. Insurance in the US is no guarantee you will get healthcare, will not go broke because of it, or die waiting for it.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#18

Post by godzillabrennus » Sun, Dec 31, 2017, 4:57 AM UTC

peterburkimsher wrote: post #12

Culture helps - everyone here wants to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. Taiwanese doctors don't get paid in money. They get paid "credits" which have to be exchanged for money based on a parallel financial system. Foreigners here sometimes complain that there's a focus on seeing more patients faster, so there might be a misdiagnosis or a less thorough examination. The fact remains though - it's cheaper to fly here t…

If they offer English speaking “tour guides” I bet it’d take off.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#19

Post by ImaCake » Sun, Dec 31, 2017, 4:57 AM UTC

peterburkimsher wrote: post #12

Culture helps - everyone here wants to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. Taiwanese doctors don't get paid in money. They get paid "credits" which have to be exchanged for money based on a parallel financial system. Foreigners here sometimes complain that there's a focus on seeing more patients faster, so there might be a misdiagnosis or a less thorough examination. The fact remains though - it's cheaper to fly here t…

I have encounted free general practice doctor places in Australia that operate on seeing as many patients as possible. Basically useless if you have a difficult to diagnose problem, but very useful for getting a referal, a script for a pill, or antibiotics.

Re: How Taiwan transformed its health care system

#20

Post by cknight » Sun, Dec 31, 2017, 5:05 AM UTC

ImaCake wrote: post #19

peterburkimsher wrote: post #12

Culture helps - everyone here wants to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. Taiwanese doctors don't get paid in money. They get paid "credits" which have to be exchanged for money based on a parallel financial system. Foreigners here sometimes complain that there's a focus on seeing more patients faster, so there might be a misdiagnosis or a less thorough examination. The fact remains though - it's cheaper to fly here t…

I have encounted free general practice doctor places in Australia that operate on seeing as many patients as possible. Basically useless if you have a difficult to diagnose problem, but very useful for getting a referal, a script for a pill, or antibiotics.

Yeah, pros and cons. GP visits are subsidised a set amount by the govt down here, and while for some doctors that means squeezing in as many visits as possible to get volume, for others it just means they get $X from the government and charge the patient an extra $Y for each visit. Many are happy to pay a premium.