I APPLAUD our Health Minister on his proposed road map for patient care which is what Singapore really needs.

Before this can be implemented successfully, I hope the Health Ministry can correct some of the myths and misconceptions that patients may have of public hospitals.

Some patients may believe that particular hospitals are not as good as the others, that the doctors there are inexperienced and the staff are not caring.

Also, patients may think that if they choose Class C wards, they would not receive treatment equivalent to that of the higher-class wards.

There is "coffeeshop talk" that in Class C wards, the patients are seen by new doctors and that the medication prescribed is of lower quality.

I have a related personal experience. A young doctor came to examine my father, who was warded at a hospital.

Without looking at his medical records, the doctor told my father that he had diabetes. I questioned the diagnosis and the doctor later apologised for the mistake.

I know that doctors need training but they also need strict supervision to ensure that proper diagnosis is given, otherwise, the myth about them may become the truth.

Mr David Soh Poh Huat