LilStar Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 This is so sad. I think we all relate to this column and the accident in one way or another (i know i do). Healthcare is free here, luckily. Otherwise my family would be broke!! its really sad when you need to worry about your health AND your bills.. (Wonka ) Thank you for the quick translation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzie Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 As much of you know, i had a stroke last fall and i was still unconscious in a coma when that happened..I even missed Mika's gig in Coimbra in October 25th and my own bday in October 24th... I was in a coma for 20 days after a stroke and trust me, it's not good to wake up and find out u have a bill of almost 50,000 euros to pay... This is shocking. I did not know you'd need to worry about how you pay your hospital bills anywhere in Europe. Here it is free of charge for all Hungarians, although there might be some changes to the system in the coming years. Still, life saving surgery and hospital care until one's state is stabilised will remain free for everyone. I did not know you had that to worry about on top of your medical problem last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathouzouf Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Can't wait to read the column in English. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mine Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thanks for posting article and translation! not good news about Paloma @sephira: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywonka Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I'm sorry to hear about your stroke! I really hope you are getting better now!*sends love and a hug to you* This is so sad. I think we all relate to this column and the accident in one way or another (i know i do). Healthcare is free here, luckily. Otherwise my family would be broke!! its really sad when you need to worry about your health AND your bills.. (Wonka ) Thank you for the quick translation. This is shocking. I did not know you'd need to worry about how you pay your hospital bills anywhere in Europe. Here it is free of charge for all Hungarians, although there might be some changes to the system in the coming years. Still, life saving surgery and hospital care until one's state is stabilised will remain free for everyone. I did not know you had that to worry about on top of your medical problem last year I had to because i went to a private hospital before i had the stroke, just to find out what i had, because all my doctors work there...then, after the coma they wouldn't like to move me to a public one so i had to stay the whole time in the private one... Which was good, in a way, or by the time we're speaking here, i woudn't be alive anymore as in a public health institution/hospital they wouldn't lose so much time recovering me back to life as they did in the private hospital... In here, if you don't regain self consciouness in half an hour they won't try heart recovery any longer and you die... On the private hospital they tried to keep me back to life for an hour and a half... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzie Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I had to because i went to a private hospital before i had the stroke, just to find out what i had, because all my doctors work there...then, after the coma they wouldn't like to move me to a public one so i had to stay the whole time in the private one... Which was good, in a way, or by the time we're speaking here, i woudn't be alive anymore as in a public health institution/hospital they wouldn't lose so much time recovering me back to life as they did in the private hospital... In here, if you don't regain self consciousness in half an hour they won't try heart recovery any longer and you die... On the private hospital they tried to keep me back to life for an hour and a half... Yes, I understand what you mean. If I try to think of what would happen here at a state hospital (99% are state-financed ones), I'd say it depends on the doctors who treat you but more importantly, you are expected to pay them large sums privately to make sure you get the best treatment. So our state-financed health care is not for free, either. I would not even have my arm plastered without giving the doctor some money or at least offering it, as you simply can't expect to be looked after without 'bribing' them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywonka Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Yes, I understand what you mean. If I try to think of what would happen here at a state hospital (99% are state-financed ones), I'd say it depends on the doctors who treat you but more importantly, you are expected to pay them large sums privately to make sure you get the best treatment. So our state-financed health care is not for free, either. I would not even have my arm plastered without giving the doctor some money or at least offering it, as you simply can't expect to be looked after without 'bribing' them. That goes without saying what you have to pay if you want to have a health insurance that really works, here... For instance, i will never have the right to have an health insurance because i have a chronic disease (Chron's Disease),so no health insurance company risks to give me one, as i am probably using it many times, so chronic patients have to spend most of their money in medicines, medical appointments and hospital stays with no support from the Government, not even a damn insurance to help them paying for their health bills.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFerrari Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I had to because i went to a private hospital before i had the stroke, just to find out what i had, because all my doctors work there...then, after the coma they wouldn't like to move me to a public one so i had to stay the whole time in the private one... Which was good, in a way, or by the time we're speaking here, i woudn't be alive anymore as in a public health institution/hospital they wouldn't lose so much time recovering me back to life as they did in the private hospital... In here, if you don't regain self consciouness in half an hour they won't try heart recovery any longer and you die... On the private hospital they tried to keep me back to life for an hour and a half... omg, I wasn't aware of what happened to you! I'm glad you're still here with us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAK1 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 This must have been a very difficult column for him to write, reliving what happened that night, my heart goes out to him, Paloma and the rest of the family. What a horrendous phone call that must have been for his dad, being so far away! I guess we are lucky here having the NHS, I hope that the government maintains it properly, and not try privatising, like they seem obsessed with doing to everything else! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywonka Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 This must have been a very difficult column for him to write, reliving what happened that night, my heart goes out to him, Paloma and the rest of the family. What a horrendous phone call that must have been for his dad, being so far away!I guess we are lucky here having the NHS, I hope that the government maintains it properly, and not try privatising, like they seem obsessed with doing to everything else! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikastee Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 *prays for paloma her suffering isn't end yet. i hope she can through all of the rehabilitation and she will be back like normaly. best of luck <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaImogen Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thanks for the summary! I can't wait to read the original but I know I'll cry. I admire his strength for writing about this and hope Paloma will be back to herself soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzie Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 chronic patients have to spend most of their money in medicines, medical appointments and hospital stays with no support from the Government, not even a damn insurance to help them paying for their health bills.... That sounds unbelievable. Since you officially have a state-financed system as well, I would have thought the medication of chronic diseases is included in the service. It seems to be against the human rights of chronic patients and I am surprised the it is not regulated by the EU. It makes me appreciate the state of our health care a bit more now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shine Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I'm sorry to hear about your stroke! I really hope you are getting better now!*sends love and a hug to you* Sorry, me neither I knew you were in hospital at that time, but didn't know how bad it was:huglove: Hopefully you're much better now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 That is really shocking Wonka. I'm sorry they had to add financial insult to injury. It's just awful to think it could completely wipe out a family when they are already struggling with health issues. Outrageous. We don't have a two tiered system in my province in Canada. The government pays for primary health care no matter who your doctor is or what hospital you go to. I've never seen a bill from a doctor or hospital in my life. I can't even imagine. I'm just glad you're still here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoliLovesMusic Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Can anyone post the link of the new article? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I just read the portuguese translation (Thanks Andy ) and...wow! It was shocking to hear about it back then, but knowing more details, like that it was their dad's brithday and all makes it all even worse... I can't possibly imagine what it must have been like for them. I'm really glad to know how well the emergency services and the health care in general work there, although it makes me even more furious about my own country . Believe me, if it had happened here, it would have ended a lot worse. As for Paloma's condition, we all knew it would be a long process, but I'm happy to know she's fighting and on the road to recovery. And with a family like hers, I'm sure she'll have a lot of support and love! The whole family is in my thoughts. The fact that Mika wrote about it, makes me believe that the whole situation is a lot better now. It was good to see him performing 2 weeks after the accident, he looked very relaxed and all smiley, probably he was incredibly relieved. But seeing him speak openly about it, and giving some more details, for me is a sign that the worse things have passed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thank you, Robi for posting and Nezza for making the summary...That must have been an awful accident, i didn't know she was awaken through the whole process... As much of you know, i had a stroke last fall and i was still unconscious in a coma when that happened..I even missed Mika's gig in Coimbra in October 25th and my own bday in October 24th... I was in a coma for 20 days after a stroke and trust me, it's not good to wake up and find out u have a bill of almost 50,000 euros to pay... So, I agree with Mika according the health system... As for Paloma i deeply feel for her, just hope her recovery happens soon and is 100%... :huglove: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siu Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thank you, Robi for posting and Nezza for making the summary...That must have been an awful accident, i didn't know she was awaken through the whole process... As much of you know, i had a stroke last fall and i was still unconscious in a coma when that happened..I even missed Mika's gig in Coimbra in October 25th and my own bday in October 24th... I was in a coma for 20 days after a stroke and trust me, it's not good to wake up and find out u have a bill of almost 50,000 euros to pay... So, I agree with Mika according the health system... As for Paloma i deeply feel for her, just hope her recovery happens soon and is 100%... This frustrates me how in some cases people with health problems are left on their own. In Estonia health care is almost free, i.e. you have to pay around 3 euros for each visit, but no other fees(unless you go to a private clinic). On the other hand a bigger part of the 33% social tax that we pay goes to health care. Yet the waiting list in the clinics run by the state is several months and the waiting list to have a non-emergency surgery is up to 3 years (!), depending on the department. Although the quality of the medicals services is generally good, the system itself is rather reactive than pro-active. The government spends huge sums on disability allowances, which one hand is due to poor standards of determining who really needs these and who doesn't and on the other hand it's due to poor prevention of serious health disorders and/or disabilities especially after accidents and in children. After an accident and hospitalisation people are entitled to 10 physiotherapy sessions by the state regardless of the seriousness of the accident. It is almost the same for children with mobility impairment – 20 state-financed session per year (approx. one 45 min session every other week!). This is clearly not enough to help a person to regain or develop necessary abilities. Before we moved to the UK we were told that medical services here are extremely expensive, so I had an agreement with the key doctors my family had been seeing in Estonia to get advice and prescriptions on-line and my son's physiotherapist gave me loads of advice on how to keep developing his mobility skills. But as RAK1 already pointed out the NHS is great. Medical services are free also to non-residents and different departments have excellent communication, which means that if you have to see several specialists for a certain problem, they are already up-to-date with the case when you have your appointment. The systems understands that the earlier a health problem is addressed, the better are the results and the sooner the person is back at work, paying tax money to finance the the system. Thanks for the article and the English summary! The columns are getting very personal. This one must have been pretty hard for MIKA to write. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anney Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 hey^^...does anybody have the link of the article in english? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywonka Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 That sounds unbelievable. Since you officially have a state-financed system as well, I would have thought the medication of chronic diseases is included in the service. It seems to be against the human rights of chronic patients and I am surprised the it is not regulated by the EU. It makes me appreciate the state of our health care a bit more now. Sorry, me neither I knew you were in hospital at that time, but didn't know how bad it was:huglove: Hopefully you're much better now That is really shocking Wonka. I'm sorry they had to add financial insult to injury. It's just awful to think it could completely wipe out a family when they are already struggling with health issues. Outrageous. We don't have a two tiered system in my province in Canada. The government pays for primary health care no matter who your doctor is or what hospital you go to. I've never seen a bill from a doctor or hospital in my life. I can't even imagine. I'm just glad you're still here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywonka Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I just read the portuguese translation (Thanks Andy ) and...wow! It was shocking to hear about it back then, but knowing more details, like that it was their dad's brithday and all makes it all even worse... I can't possibly imagine what it must have been like for them. I'm really glad to know how well the emergency services and the health care in general work there, although it makes me even more furious about my own country . Believe me, if it had happened here, it would have ended a lot worse. As for Paloma's condition, we all knew it would be a long process, but I'm happy to know she's fighting and on the road to recovery. And with a family like hers, I'm sure she'll have a lot of support and love! The whole family is in my thoughts. The fact that Mika wrote about it, makes me believe that the whole situation is a lot better now. It was good to see him performing 2 weeks after the accident, he looked very relaxed and all smiley, probably he was incredibly relieved. But seeing him speak openly about it, and giving some more details, for me is a sign that the worse things have passed. This frustrates me how in some cases people with health problems are left on their own. In Estonia health care is almost free, i.e. you have to pay around 3 euros for each visit, but no other fees(unless you go to a private clinic). On the other hand a bigger part of the 33% social tax that we pay goes to health care. Yet the waiting list in the clinics run by the state is several months and the waiting list to have a non-emergency surgery is up to 3 years (!), depending on the department. Although the quality of the medicals services is generally good, the system itself is rather reactive than pro-active. The government spends huge sums on disability allowances, which one hand is due to poor standards of determining who really needs these and who doesn't and on the other hand it's due to poor prevention of serious health disorders and/or disabilities especially after accidents and in children. After an accident and hospitalisation people are entitled to 10 physiotherapy sessions by the state regardless of the seriousness of the accident. It is almost the same for children with mobility impairment – 20 state-financed session per year (approx. one 45 min session every other week!). This is clearly not enough to help a person to regain or develop necessary abilities. Before we moved to the UK we were told that medical services here are extremely expensive, so I had an agreement with the key doctors my family had been seeing in Estonia to get advice and prescriptions on-line and my son's physiotherapist gave me loads of advice on how to keep developing his mobility skills. But as RAK1 already pointed out the NHS is great. Medical services are free also to non-residents and different departments have excellent communication, which means that if you have to see several specialists for a certain problem, they are already up-to-date with the case when you have your appointment. The systems understands that the earlier a health problem is addressed, the better are the results and the sooner the person is back at work, paying tax money to finance the the system. Thanks for the article and the English summary! The columns are getting very personal. This one must have been pretty hard for MIKA to write. hey^^...does anybody have the link of the article in english? Not yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 hey^^...does anybody have the link of the article in english? It's not available in English just yet. Probably another couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krjsantos Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thanks guys for posting and translate Really emotional Best wishes for her and family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Well, what can I say about Brazil... If you're scared about Europe, maybe I shouldn't say anything The thing is: the government offers a health care system, but you definitely can't count on it. If you're lucky ($) enough to pay your own health plan, good for you. Otherwise, when you need something... Only God knows. Yesterday I heard on TV about those children that were born with a health problem called "cleft palate" (I don't know if it's correct, but blame it on Google Translator ). There seems to be a time limit for the repair surgery to be done, otherwise the person will have to deal with it for the rest of her life. Some children are waiting for the surgery for five years and, even worse, now that their turn has come, the doctors are on strike over nonpayment of wages. When it comes to emergency services, sometimes it's not better. Last year, I was going home from work and fell on the street. I couldn't walk in that moment, so a police man that (thanks God) was there, called the emergency. They came and, in that moment, the guy asked me if I had any private health plan. I said "yes" and asked him to get the card in my wallet. He took it and said "oh, I'm sorry, but we don't know about any hospital that accepts your plan, we're gonna take you to a public one" and I was like "noooooo :shocked:". Anyway, I couldn't walk, so... They left me in that hospital, on a litter (again, hoping to use the correct word here), and I stayed there, waiting in the corridor, for 2 hours and a half until a doctor came and started to help me. It was hurting so much Definitely not a good memory. That said, I couldn't see your (European) health services with better eyes, even knowing about all your problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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