One quirk I hate about life here.

This is not a rant. At least not 'that' kind of rant. But I had to write it down somewhere.  There is this one thing I hate about life in a developed nation like Australia. It is not a first world problem per-se. But it looks like one for someone who just came in. It is about doctors. 

Doctors in this country simply don't want to prescribe medications. There, I said it.

If GPs here had their say, which they do, they would rather every sick person just stay at home and recover naturally, via a miracle. You could have 50 degree fevers, and coughing from your lungs, but the doctors here will not prescribe antibiotics. At best, they will recommend getting an OTC cough syrup. And then, plenty of rest. 

Now I work in a system with ample sick leaves to take, so I can stay at home and rest, aided by the medical certificate issued by the GP, and will still get paid for it. But that does not make my illness go away. It actually makes things worse for us because now I need special care, and the fear of spreading something to the family. The sooner I get better, the better it is for everyone.

But not everyone working here has ample sick leaves. Most workers prefer contract jobs, because they pay higher. But contract workers do NOT get paid sick leaves. In fact, they don't get any paid leaves. So those workers, will try to still work and get to office, even when they are not fully recovered. And this is a humongous problem.

This means that ill workers still spread their illness to unsuspecting co-workers, because they don't want to miss out on pay.

And a private GP will gladly charge you 100 dollars, and still not prescribe a proper medicine.

In most cases, this means a worsening condition leading to hospitalisation. 

Which is where I am typing this rant from.