I'm Still Human: Understanding Depression With Kindness (Expanded Edition - 2021)

Table 2: Private versus government psychiatric services.
PRIVATE *
psychiatric services
GOVERNMENT **
psychiatric services
1. Earlier appointment date.
1. Later appointment date unless
for serious or emergency cases.
2. Referral letter is not necessary. 2. Referral letter is necessary.
3. You get to choose your doctor
(e.g. one who speaks the same
language). You will be attended to by
the same doctor each visit.
3. You may not get to choose your
doctor and may be attended to by a
different doctor every visit.
4. You will be attended to
by a psychiatrist.
4. You may be attended to by a medical
officer who assists a psychiatrist.
5. Consultation and treatment
fee is more expensive.
5. Consultation and treatment
fee is much cheaper.
6. Psychiatric ward is not available
if hospitalization is required.
6. Psychiatric ward is available in main
hospitals if hospitalization is required.
7. Service is usually only
available during day time.
7. Service is available 24 hours.
After office hours, psychiatric services
are still available but at the accident &
emergency (A & E) department.
8. More expensive medications
are available.
8. More expensive medications
are limited.
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