Ranked how? I too like @geajvop have sought medical care in a few of them. All costly and extremely inefficient compared to Taiwan.
It took over a month to see a specialist in Italy. For something not minor enough for GP and not serious enough to be fast tracked. That would cause a riot in Taiwan.
It’s quite amazing. Italy for example, has world class doctors. Some of the best as medical school here is notoriously challenging and difficult to get into. But their system isn’t that good at all. Inefficient and doesn’t make sense in a lot of ways.
I was only able to seek immediate care for my last scary trip to the hospital because liliths uncle is the head of a department and got me a bed right away and fast tacked all my testing. Even the testing fast tracked, it was so slow. All of the things could have been done in Taiwan in 48hrs but took so long here.
But I have to say, almost 2 weeks in the hospital only resulted in a 3500€ bill for my insurance to pay. That part is rather incredible.
Overall in Taiwan you get seen quickly and economically by people who are competent. More or less regardless of you ability to pay. Of course they tell you there is nothing wrong with you, and that you have no reason to worry, but are they lying??
My WTF moment in the US was confusion on why the drug prescription isn’t filled at the hospital lol. And why I takes 5 hours to fill my bottle with 30 pills when I drop the script off.
Oh not pain killers and benzos. These actually get checked. Even though benzos get prescribed easily here anyways. Opiates are literally for people dying. Mom was handed paracetamol for double mastectomy…I forgot about this BS about Taiwan. Pain management is a joke. Like wtf…i wouldn’t get surgery in Taiwan for this reason.
Its worse in China though. Its like Oh yea, cut here, sew up, and now the relatives will hang around and mop up the blood. and thats what happens if you are frikken lucky.
We’ve mentioned this issue of doctors not giving enough individual attention unless you’re seriously ill. You’re going to miss something in primary care when you need to see so many patients. It’s the trade off.
Watch from about to 1:48:00 for a fuller explanation
Great movie though.
In real terms in China you are paying relatively large sums of money today if you want high quality health care. as you are in many or most places, But thankfully not in Taiwan. whoop!
P.S. that’s my favorite Chinese language movie of all time. If you have a better one let me know
Yes, the doctors want you to come back for another payment. I have been able to ask my local independent clinic doctors for some more medicine. I seem to remember I was able to get between one week and two weeks worth of medicine for antibiotics and chronic bronchitis.
Pharmacies seem to have the power to sell you normally prescription only drugs. For long term or chronic problems that won’t change that quickly, I’ve found buying the meds from the pharmacist cheaper than seeing the doctor.
BTW, used to have chronic stomach and respiratory problems in TW for several years. I switched to Chinese Medicine, Chinese Chiropractic , excercise and change if diet and knock on wood, reduced my visits to the doctor 75% . I know there is a large group that thinks Chinese medicine is a load of bunk but, insurance covers it and I feel real results after treatments
half of it is in the mind anyway. I thought I had kidney problems this week and I was in frikken agony - could hardly move - got x-rayed, wait a minute no stones no cysts? said its just a strained muscle in my back, and now with the exact same pain Im 100% grand, not a bother in the world.