PUBLIC HEALTHCARE IN BRAZIL? THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED

Most people say the Brazilian public health care system is not good! Some locals told me its great, so what's the deal? I have a story to tell.

In Brazil, I've previously visited a dentist, a doctor, and this time a hospital. This is my swollen ankle, it's been like this for several days.

It started, when I was in a public park shooting a video and walking around with my camera. This wasn't in the jungle or the amazon, just an ordinary park in the south of Brazil.

While I was holding my camera, I felt a sting at my ankle. Since I was filming, I didn't look down right a way. It felt a stronger than a mosquito bite but less than a bee sting. It didn't really bother me that much and since I was in the grass, it couldn't have been dangerous.

Well 24 hours later I see this, a red, swollen ankle. I was boarding a flight to Fortaleza so I chose to relax and not worry.

Another day goes by and my ankle is in pain and it's more swollen. I took ibuprofen hoping that it would go away but 3 days later, it didn't get better.

On the 5th day, I decided to visit a doctor but it was a Brazilian holiday and clinics were closed as well as private hospitals. The locals advised I visit public hospital so I was recommended a hospital for bites and infections.

I visited this hospital in the middle of Fortaleza and waited 20 minutes only to be told, that I have a sting and not an animal bite.

They directed me to another public hospital. I arrive there and the security guard states that if I'm not in grave danger, then I can't get it. Really?
What the heck?

I told the guard that I was directed here and that I need to get in so he finally let me in.

The hospital registration part took a bit long, about 20 minutes but only after a nurse said I could be admitted.

From that point, I waited another 15 minutes and was seen by a doctor.
While the hospital was busy with patients lying in beds in the corridor, there was no panic.

I spoke with the doctor which prescribed me anti-inflammatory medicine and directed me to the toxicology department.

From there I was impressed because the doctor in toxicology spoke decent English. She inspected my leg and said it was not a venomous sting, but if the swelling doesn't go down, I should return in 5 days.

From here, the most difficult part was actually finding an exit back to the reception. I was given some papers and was able to check out.

Now guess, how much I paid for this visit? R$0
Nothing, it was free so I was very happy and even more happy that I didn't need serious treatment.

And that's that, hospital care is somewhat better than in the United States mainly because it was free public care and every person has to right to be treated in Brazil.

Compare that to when I was struck by a homeless man in San Francisco and ended up with a fat bill even though I had very good insurance with deductibles.

In case you are not from the states, you have to pay for everything there. The ambulance ride pre-deductible was $1800 and a couple more hundred dollars for a doctor to give me stitches. After the insurance coverage, I still had to pay over $200 for my deductible.

So which healthcare system do you think is better?
SUS in Brazil is not as bad as some people claim,
so I just want to thank you the doctors that saw me and the public hospital in Fortaleza.
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