British Berkefeld

Efficascent Oil

Tiger Balm

Phonak

We found a good way to address Kong Kong's hearing loss.  Phonak, a Swiss manufacturer of hearing aids, has the Bolero model, which suits him just fine.  I think he now has a clearer appreciation of higher sound frequencies and can better follow the conversation on his favorite cable TV programs.   Such a happy revelation; we should have gotten this 20 years ago!

Mopiko S

We had initially surmised that Anita's all purpose itch cure, Mopiko S, was only available in Japan and Hong Kong.  Luckily Edgar has a lot of contacts in the Chinatown area, and he has graciously located some local retailers.  Such a relief!

* This article is not meant to provide medical advise, kindly consult your doctor before use

Homedics Shiatsu Massage Chair

Anita finally found the exact chair that Kong Kong has been looking for.  Homedics came out with a shiatsu massage chair that we think would soothe his tired back (he has a wartime bayonet wound).  The chair also has built-in heating pads and is perfect for his study!

Medicard

Health Maintenance Organization testimonial--I've been with MediCard for around 15 years now, and I can say that I'm happy with the service.  After being hospitalized a few times, I've always come to rely on the the card in times of medical emergencies.  Liaison officers are on their feet, and the nursing staff know exactly how to take care of you.  Authorized medical practitioners are varied and have extensive experience.  A good choice for me!

A Tale of Two Hospitals

From the point of view of a potential expat, I wanted to find out more about medical facilities in the city. We had a chance to visit FV Hospital, which is one of the upper end hospitals in Saigon.  I was impressed with the comfortable feel of the building architecture, as well as the breadth of practice and treatment available.  The hospital is accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI).

We were also able to visit Cho Ray Hospital, which was run by the government.  Noticeably more patients, of course.  From the number of motorcycles in the parking lot (Vietnam is probably the motorcycle capital of the world), I was mentally preparing for visuals of extreme bed congestion, but there was nothing of the sort.  The Philippine General Hospital still takes the cake on that issue.

NKTI

Korina, Monique and I paid a visit to my cousin Lina, who was briefly confined at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute for dialysis.  This hospital has been pioneering in kidney treatment and transplants for the past 30 years, and I was quite surprised that the facilities are still in very good shape.  Good doctors and staff too; as such, my cousin is doing very well, thank you!

Calcium - Sandoz

This is one vitamin supplement that I haven't seen on the local market for quite some time now Calcium-Sandoz.  Kong Kong used to buy this very often when we were kids, and these orange-flavored effervescent pills were just like any other soft-drink for us.  I understand that the supplement is now marketed by Novartis, and that the packaging is different, but I don't think they sell this locally anymore.  I miss this stuff!

Milk Thistle

My friends learned about my weakened liver condition while we were finishing that bottle of Chivas Regal. One suggested that I take milk thistle, the seed extract of which contains a lot of silymarin, which supposedly has beneficial effects for the liver, and promotes the lowering of blood cholesterol.  While clinical studies are actually inconclusive, I found myself purchasing a bottle of the product in the hope that this will make my liver tolerate some amount of good whiskey!

*  Again, my legal disclaimer--I am not a doctor, and the above comments are meant to chronicle what I think could work for my body.  If you are suffering from a liver condition, please consult your health professional.

Cardinal Santos Medical Center

I must say I was pretty impressed with the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.  I was confined there for the past week due to a bad case of cellulitis.  I had a scratch on my nose, right where the eyeglass nose pad rests, and somehow, bacteria was able to get in.  I probably rubbed the scratch with my dirty hands, and as a result, my face got swollen (such that I couldn't open my eyes), and my fever shot up to 40 degrees celsius.  Not a good sign, and since oral antibiotics would take too long, the doctors insisted that the antibiotics would be administered via intravenous injection.  I had to agree to confinement, as the infection could progress to meningitis or encephalitis, which would be very dangerous and difficult to cure.  From the emergency room, the x-ray department to the in-room nursing team, I was pampered and treated with dignity and respect.

Who says hospital food has to be horrible?  I had five meals a day for a whole week--brekky, morning snack, lunch, afternoon merienda, and dinner, without repeating anything.  Wide variety, better tasting than that of your average office canteen.  Meals were deliver hot and on time.  A nutritionist came to see me on my second day, and I even requested that sauces be plated separately from the main course, and my request was strictly observed throughout my stay.

The physical plant has been improved much.  If I recall right, a visit to the hospital around 15 years ago left me with the impression that a lot of renovation work was sorely needed.  Since the group of MVP took over the management a few years back, the rooms are prettier, parking is available, corridors are brighter, a lot of doctors have continued their practice there and the hospital looks much better now.  I would think that some modern equipment has also been introduced (I remember that Pipay had undergone some specialized MRI scans there some years ago).