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Too much of a good thing: private doctors often take risks with pain medicines

While the public system suffers from too few resources, private doctors often give patients more medication than is safe

The author was given all these pain medicines after a minor operation. (Identifying information has been blacked out.) Photo: Nathan Geffen
I had surgery on my shoulder under general anaesthetic a few months ago. About one in seven South Africans have medical insurance. I am fortunate to be one of them. I was operated on about a month after an injury that necessitated it. The operation took place in a very comfortable private day hospital. The surgeon, anaesthetist and nurses all treated me well. The operation went well. I had very little post-op pain and my shoulder has recovered well.
It’s unlikely I would have had a similarly positive experience in the public health system. If surgery were even an…

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  1. The wonder of a man with a running stomach is that he knows the direction of the door without anybody’s guidance.

  2. Melktert – milk tart. One of South Africa’s most popular desserts consisting of a sweet pastry crust and a creamy milk filling, topped with cinnamon powder. Absolutely delicious!