What is it like to immigrate overseas when you reach middle age?

Free medical care

Living in China, I am most afraid of going to the hospital. The first is the large number of people, the second is the difficulty in registration, the third is the high cost, and the fourth is the lack of dignity for patients. Doctors often bring students to use you as lesson plans.

When I first arrived in Portugal, I heard from Chinese people that I couldn’t afford to wait for free medical care here and it would take too long. But if you live for a long time and have truly experienced it, you will understand the truth:

1. First of all, we must respect local laws

When seeing a doctor, you must first go to your family doctor, who will confirm whether you need to go to a large hospital for treatment. Because our compatriots like to do things according to their own wishes and are used to it, they often decide whether to go to a large hospital for examination.

Portugal’s medical resources are also limited. Most of the daily patients are scheduled appointments, and emergency and critically ill patients have to be received at the same time. Therefore, common symptoms such as colds and high blood pressure can only wait.

2. The doctor has a good attitude and high skills

In China, we often encounter doctors who look unhappy. The contents of the medical certificate also use language such as suspected and possible. In Portugal, there are no ambiguous diagnoses, only yes. Or not. Moreover, the doctor can speak English and has a good attitude. During the process, he will constantly ask the patient how he feels, for example, what to do next, if there will be a little pain, how will you wait

3. Respect patients

During the examination, no other medical staff will be allowed to appear except the attending physician. If I touch any part, I must tell you and ask for your opinion

4. Really free medical care

I had a minor surgery, and the cost in China was about RMB 8,000 to RMB 10,000. In Portugal, I didn’t pay a penny, including registration, physical examination, surgery, medication and re-examination. The only expense is parking.

5. Good order

Most of the people enjoying public medical care are poor people in Portugal, but no one speaks loudly in the hospital. There are service staff in the hospital who provide free tea and coffee. I met a lady who The bag was forgotten in the restroom. Someone was seen holding the bag and asking every patient in the waiting room if they had lost their bag. When the person who lost the bag got the bag, he only said thank you, which seemed to be a normal thing, and did not check the bag. Have you lost anything there...

In view of free medical care for all, I began to fall in love with this strange country!