July 23, 2009
Health Care Reform: A View from Below the Equator
My breakfast this morning was accompanied by various news reports about the progress of health care reform in the US. Both sides make references to other countries which have socialized health care, and the pros and cons of such a system in the US. This prompted me to make the following observation on Twitter and Facebook:
My thoughts on health care reform: if the engine is broke, fix it--don't pull it out and replace it with a hamster running inside a wheel.
Several people responded, and one of my Facebook friends mentioned that, as a foreign missionary, I might have a perspective on health care that could be helpful to the debate. So, after some reflection, here are my thoughts:
Medical care is guaranteed by the Brazilian government. Emergency care is always free, and there are a couple government-run plans that provide insurance to low-income people. Because our insurance is US-based, we pay everything out-of-pocket, as opposed to using a Brazilian plan. We have been generally pleased with the medical attention we have received--especially when it came to the birth of our second son, Nathanael. The hospital where he was born was clean and efficiently run, and the staff very professional.
For those who must use free government resources, however, the story is different. For a year and a half I was director of the Iguatu Baptist Camp, and we took all campers with injuries and sicknesses to the local public hospital. It was always understaffed, WAY below US cleanliness standards, and in many instances the staff lacked in basic professionalism. On a couple of occasions I was afraid that the hospital would succeed only in worsening the condition. Sadly, this is the situation I have found in every emergency facility I have known here.
It is true that medical treatment is cheaper here than in the US. The astronomical cost involved in giving birth to Mikey (our first born) in the US stood in sharp contrast to the mere $1500.00 it cost here for his younger brother. One of the reasons for this is that Brazil is not nearly as litigous as the US, and therefore doctors and other medical professionals do not have to carry the absurd amounts of malpractice insurance required for their US counterparts.
Perhaps the biggest contrast to be made between the Brazilian health-care system and the one currently in place in America can be seen in terms of people traveling from one country to the other for medical services.
Many Americans make the trip to Brazil for medical procedures. They come for plastic surgery, liposuctions, and laser eye surgery. All of these can be had here for a fraction of what they cost in the United States.
Whenever a prominant Brazilian polititian or entertainer becomes gravely ill, however, they are immediately whisked off to the US.
The contrast cannot be clearer: when it comes to health care, come to Brazil to save some money, go to the US to save your life.
Posted by Andrew on July 23, 2009 2:49 PM.
Comments
Posted by: Ched at July 23, 2009 4:38 PM
Thanks for stopping by, Ched! It is going to be very interesting to see what the next few days will bring forth in the health-care reform debate.
Posted by: Andrew 
at July 23, 2009 4:47 PM
Andrew, I totally agree with you on the issue of when and where to get medical care. I grew up in Anapolis, near Brasilia, and my wife and I are going back to Brazil next summer as missionaries as well. We are thankful for the cheap price in Brazil, but when it comes to the major issues, we'd stick with the American system...but even still, Brazil is quite advanced in its medicine...if you can afford it...as you well know. :-)
Posted by: Ben Bacheller at July 26, 2009 12:15 AM
Ben,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I agree wholeheartedly--the Brazilian medical system has some outstanding professionals and facilities. Yet, for the rank and file, the medical system is woefully inadequate. This is the oposite of how socialized medicine is supposed to work.
Blessings on you and your ministry.
Posted by: Andrew at July 26, 2009 8:24 AM
Subscribe via
The contrast cannot be clearer: when it comes to health care, come to Brazil to save some money, go to the US to save your life.
You make a v. interesting point.