3rd world medical care.

[rhys 0]

Today I had to visit the doctor because of fever and pain in my kidney regon.

I am in tanzania, and didn't really know what to expect. I decided not to go to the big KCMC hospital but went to the smaller mwenzi hospital.

Check this out,

Doctors visit cost in us dollars
consultation from MD$0.40c
Blood test and urine test $0.80c
full course of antibiotics with syringes x 10 $1.80
pain killers that completely supress the pain and fever x 10 $0.80

The doctor spoke really good english and was very professional. I was quite stoked to get all that for
$3.80

I felt like i was dying this morning but now i feel sweet!

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[kbordson 8]

Glad you got the care you need. I't amazing how things are different in other countries. Peru was fun... One of the docs in our group got sick at the end (after we had depeleted most of our supplies) so I just went to the pharmacy. No scripts. No verification of who I was or my education just tourist American looking. But basically got to just shop off the shelf for what IV I wanted, what meds to use... and ended up paying maybe $5 total. Got back to the hotel and took care of him. Big eye opener about how different things are.

[Zing 2]

Tanzania is trying to rebuild a crippled health care system. In January, my father, a surgeon, is leaving for a third trip to Tanzania with a group of people. The group gathers medical supplies and equipment, donations, bought out of pocket ... you name it. For this trip, they shipped four containers over by ship and hope it will have arrived at this year's destination by the time the group arrives.
On the first trip, 3 years ago (I can't remember the names of the places they've gone, but they tend to be rural) the plan was to reopen the hospital section and surgery at a place that had been closed for 10 years. It had become a hospice where AIDS victims went to die.
They arrived late in the afternoon, planning to see patients through an impromptu clinic. At sunrise, there were more than 5,000 waiting to see the doctors, and no medical supplies. Some snafu held up delivery for 24 hours. There was nearly a riot, but people kept things together and thousands were treated over the next few weeks. Everything from rashes and insect/snakebites, to major surgical procedures were done during power outages, incompatible power supplies for equipment. An amazing accomplishment for a group of volunteers and a little help from the Tanzanian authorities.
In my travels to third-world nations, medical care is something you hope to not need.

Zing Lurks

[cocheese 0]

I tried to buy oxygen at a local medical supply company a few years ago. They said no way....I have to have insurance and a doctor's prescription.
I said I'm paying cash and just want one tank for a few weeks here and there.
Nope. Can't even buy air without a prescription. Thank you U.S. legal system.


BTW? ... how many worlds are here on earth and where are the second and fourth world countries?

[warpedskydiver 0]

I was able to get meds in europe before, but I know for a fact that the Pharmacist had to break the law in order to help me out.

[tetra316 0]

Quote

I tried to buy oxygen at a local medical supply company a few years ago. They said no way....I have to have insurance and a doctor's prescription.
I said I'm paying cash and just want one tank for a few weeks here and there.
Nope. Can't even buy air without a prescription. Thank you U.S. legal system.

I couldn't even by an oxygen mask at a supply store without a perscription. Finally did find one store that would sell it to me though.

[unformed 0]

Quote

BTW? ... how many worlds are here on earth and where are the second and fourth world countries?

There's three, although there are references to Fourth World.

Second World used to refer to the Communist countries under Soviet influence. However, after 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed, it's not really used anymore.

The Third World represented those countries that aligned themselves with neither the West nor the Soviet Bloc during the Cold War, although now its based on a low UN HDI.

Some writers use Fourth World to refer to the poorest Third World countries.

More information at Wiki:
Second World
Third World

(And you thought you were making a joke! )

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[freeflir29 0]

In most of the Middle East you can buy most drugs OTC. The only ones that are normally controlled and require a script is anything opium based. Right across the street from where I live I can go to a pharmacy and buy all the Xanax, Cialis, Viagra, Valium, and 100 other drugs OTC. It's all packaged from Europe and my guess is it's legit stuff. It's only the West that is so nuts.