Doctors, Dentists and Banks

Today I go to the dentist for the first time in Colombia, and for the first time in far too many years in any country!! Well that isn’t quite true, Johanna and I went twice 2 weeks ago, our appointment was on the Wednesday, but when we arrived at the surgery we were not in the dentists diary, however he was very nice about it and said that he could find time for us the following afternoon, so the next day we went again and I was called in first, the dentist had a good look round in my mouth and went on to tell me what needed doing in a mixture of English and Spanish, my Spanish lacking in the appropriate vocabulary! And then he asked if I wanted the price in English or Spanish, I was taken aback as this is included in my health insurance and so didn’t think I would have to pay anything. When I shared this concern with the dentist it was his turn to be taken aback as he assured me that he has never taken patients under any insurance, he was a purely private practitioner! So I called in Johanna, who had made the appointment and taken the directions, she showed him the number we had rung and the directions she had been given – opposite one shop and next to another, thus leading us to his surgery. Well it seemed that on the other side of said shop there was also a dentist surgery that does indeed see patients under our insurance plan! We had gone, twice, to the wrong dentist, and missed our appointment at the right one!!! Thankfully the dentist was very kind and did not charge me for the examination, and the right dentist made us a new appointment for today without charging us for the missed one – indeed the receptionists had a good laugh at our expense as we explained why we missed it!

But this is the latest medical encounter, it is only this year that I have had the local medical insurance here in Colombia, last year I had my travel insurance, which covered me for major incidents but nothing for the more minor health issues which sometimes occur and I have certainly made use of it! Over the last couple months I have had 2 rather large and painful abscesses one on my leg and one on my bottom – literally couldn’t sit down for a week!! Also, when visiting the doctor, a lovely lady about my age, when taking my medical history decided to give me a cream for my psoriasis and the dentist appointment. I have also recently had rather an odd pain in my right index finger which she has also given me tablets for. I must admit I was a bit worried coming out of the surgery with a prescription list as long as my arm, however was pleased to find out that the cost of prescriptions is also covered under the insurance, and merely had to hand the paper over at the pharmacy and he handed me a bag full of drugs.

This said, I am still a fan of the NHS, as although all of this is good and covered I obviously have to pay every month for the privilege. Thankfully a kind supporter in the UK is covering the cost for me, something which many people here do not have and cannot afford. There are insurance plans for the less well of but many of the poorest and illiterate people, like those we work with, find the prospect of applying intimidating, leaving them in trouble when they or their children do fall ill. Fortunately most of our children do have insurance and we encourage the others to get it. For me the main downside of paying every month means spending an hour or more a month stood in the slowest moving queue you can imagine at the bank waiting to pay the money in. There are not direct debits here, not that I have a Colombian account, so all the bills are paid either directly into the recipients bank or at the supermarket in the case of gas/water/electricity which means very long queues! But as all three of us are paying monthly into the same bank we go together and hang out in the queue, chatting amongst ourselves and with the others. Last month someone told me that people have met their future husbands in the bank queue, well there is an incentive!!