Living in Malta:

                The First Doctor Visit

 

       This was one of my posts as a guest blogger for Wired Malta.com.

 

 

I went for my first routine visit to a new doctor. This is the first time I've been to a doctor in another country. I heard the health care system was different in Malta, so I expected something different. Some things I really liked; just a few things I didn't like so far.

There were so many differences between a visit to a typical American doctor and a visit to a typical Maltese doctor that I'm going to list them and compare them one-by-one. But because this post will take some time (after all, the American health care and insurance system is a major reason I left the States), I'm going to make just the first comparison right now.

The Appointment

The US: Back in the States I have to call and make an appointment. Sometimes I get a nice receptionist; sometimes not. Sometimes I get an voice mail with lots of options--If emergency, press 1 now. If dead, press 2. Then--if declared dead, please hang up and call mortuary. If not declared dead yet, please dial 1 to get the receptionist to make an appointment. Please have your health insurance number ready. I cannot come in to the office to see my personal doctor. I need to make an appointment. I may very well be seen the same day if it's my general practitioner, but I must make that call first.

 

Malta: To see the doctor, I didn't need an appointment. I found this out by calling the pharmacy where my doctor--referred by a Maltese friend--visits patients. In Malta, most pharmacies are associated with one or more private doctors who see patients in an office/examining room in the back of the pharmacy. So the pharmacy itself is like a small waiting room. The pharmacist was the one who answered the phone. She told me the doctor's hours for the week, and said to just come in and wait. She also gave me his mobile number--yes, my American friends--his mobile number. The pharmacist also said the doctor makes home visits. He makes home visits. I have fond memories of my childhood doctor making home visits, but no more. American doctors--for the most part--never make home visits. And, yes, that includes if you need to be declared dead. If so, you must make that appointment--as stated above--and arrange for transportation to the office. If you're starting to decompose, you may be turned away and sent to the emergency room where everyone waits so long that several other people will die and you won't feel alone.

Next post will be about the differences between a US doctor's office and a Maltese doctor's office.

Comments

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Yes, it is crazy--and that's what it is: excluded for life. I don't know about the British health agreement with Malta, bit it doesn't matter for me because I'm not a member of the EU. That's the problem. But at least, as I said, the health care is cheaper here in Malta than in the US. This was my only alternative. Thanks for your concern, Dee!

[Dee Owen]

That is crazy! Does that mean anything you've seen a Doc. for in the 5 years is excluded for life, or just some period of time? Here you have a two year wait for any pr-existing condition, then are covered from ther on. Do you know anything about the British health agreement with Malta?

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

The big problem here with the health insurance, Dee, is that it excludes every single condition you ever went to the doctor for in the past five years, according to the application. For example, because my total cholesterol is a little high (my good HDL is very high, too, Atlas insurance excluded anything dealing with heart disease or stroke--ever. That's crazy, but that's the situation. It's not great here, but at least there is some coverage. And as I said, the costs of going to the doctor are a lot less here.

[Dee Owen]

Thats good to hear Ilene. Couldn't afford insurance in the States!

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Dee, Thanks for your comment. And, yes, what you say is true. But there have been Americans who say they've faced the same problem in Malta! The one good thing is that the health care in Malta seems to be good, but less expensive than in the US. It's not as out of control.

[Dee Owen]

And if you don't have medical insurance in USA, they ask "how are you going to pay - cash or credit card?" or grab your credit card as they're wheeling off to 'who know's where'! Home visits and cell phone numbers! Another great reason to move to Malta! Dee