Having noted an unusual throat redness and that my tongue was turning white, I duly presented myself to a doctor's office in a pharmacy where I was diagnosed with a "slight sore throat" and "sinus" hence, I was prescribed a nasal spray and penicillin pills should I feel sick.

Two days after, my conditions seemed to worsen so I decided to see another doctor for a second opinion. This doctor was called into my residence and following what I thought was a very superficial check up, I was diagnosed with severe tonsillitis and sinus and I was prescribed with pills to combat the sinus and with others for the stomach.

This made me wonder so I called in at a local polyclinic wherein I was told to keep taking the sinus pills, to stop the stomach pills as I had no reason to take them and to start a seven-day course of antibiotics for my throat. On finishing the prescribed course of antibiotics, my throat remained infected and red and my tongue did not seem to regain its colour so, as my concerns grew, I rushed to a private hospital where, for the first time in this whole ordeal, I got a decent check-up that lasted approximately 10 minutes which included a detailed consultation and I was told that all the pills I had been ingesting were not helping as my infection was viral and not bacterial!

Malasanita? I wonder....

My conclusions, I now would rather pay a higher rate and go to the private sector than clinic jump and spend a higher amount without getting a decent diagnosis!