Refused to be discharged

Today I went to the National Eye Centre for the annual review. I have kept the appointments alive by exaggerating a bit on the floaters that disturb my vision. This is because the centre will discharge you if you don't have any serious problem. Today after the tests and inspection, the young lady doctor told me apart from the floaters which shouldn't be of real concern, my cornea health is declining ie. the cells are degenerating. She explains this is part of aging and nothing much can be done about it. When pressed further she said my vision may become a bit hazy over time. I queried what is the worst that can happen (hypochondriac syndrome kicking in) to which she replied a cornea transplant if vision really deteriorates. Then she gave me a close look which kind of frightened me and in the next breath she said, "I am just thinking whether to still monitor you or discharge you". I was aghast and declared "I want to be monitored". She replied though not rudely that it was not for me to decide. I then asked her politely why my degenerating cornea condition doesn't need monitoring. She said it will be a slow and gradual process and won't be like I will lose my vision overnight. I remarked that surely the hospital should take care of ( I was about to say pioneer generation but stopped short realizing I didn't qualify) elderly people like myself. This time round she retorted "But madam, we have many many other elderly people to take care of too". She finally accommodated by saying she will go over to seek the consultant's advice.They finally decided to see me in 2 years time. At the registration desk, the clerk told me she will give me an appointment in 18 months' time and that it is better not to fix an appointment exactly 2 years from now. She said it was to give me some contingency should I need any postponement as there is a policy for automatic discharge of patients not seen for 2 years. To get myself re-registered I would need to go to a polyclinic for referral and a long wait of months for an appointment.

I reflect on the doctor's exasperated retort and the clerk's advice and begin to really feel the limited resources in public healthcare. In a way my own remarks pose a relevant question, "To what extent is my healthcare the government's responsibility?" It comes very naturally to me that the government should take care of my healthcare needs. However if I view it from the angle of  "limited resources a midst competing demand"  it may seem selfish of me to take up someone's slot. Still, it will take a really big heart to forgo public healthcare.

(By the way I feel these young doctors really have very little EQ, telling a patient her conditions is not so good and in the next instance telling her she is discharged).