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I had a previous post discussing a Dr visit. This is an update to discuss medical care in India.
My shoulders have been dysfunctional for over one month. Dr took Xrays, said I have arthritis and a bone spur. Recommendation: take some medication and do physiotherapy every day for two weeks. It's been almost 4 weeks and I do not feel any better.
Medical insurance is offered by a few of the private companies but most people pay out of pocket for private practices.
My initial visit with physician was $30 USD. Each session of physiotherapy is $7. At home my co-pay is $12.
Care: all the physiotherapist does is heat, ultrasound and electric stim. Nothing else. Didn't even give me exercises, probably because I wouldn't be able to do them as it's difficult to lift my arm to my shoulder. It's been three weeks and I don't fell better so talked to the Dr again. He gave me different drugs and added a few more medications.
The diagnosis and medications are all written on a 8x11 page of paper with the Dr's info at the top. I take this piece of paper to the chemist aka pharmacist. They fill the drugs. My first visit for 4 medications was about $10. I could have taken the "prescription" to as many chemists as I wanted. One of the drugs was an opiate (to help me sleep) and there is NO regulation.
I asked for an MRI and scheduled it for the next day. Clinic was OK. Cost up front for MRI was $160. What is it back home, $1000? I was asked to wait outside the MRI room until they finished up with the previous person. Outside the room the banging of the magnets used for the MRI was REALLY loud.
My Dr said they don't usually schedule MRIs as India is not an affluent country and he would not recommend an MRI unless he was going to operate. I guess the conservative approach has its merits and can save people money. But on the other hand the USA might way over use technology as its there. As always there's good and bad with everything.
I had a previous post discussing a Dr visit. This is an update to discuss medical care in India.
My shoulders have been dysfunctional for over one month. Dr took Xrays, said I have arthritis and a bone spur. Recommendation: take some medication and do physiotherapy every day for two weeks. It's been almost 4 weeks and I do not feel any better.
Medical insurance is offered by a few of the private companies but most people pay out of pocket for private practices.
My initial visit with physician was $30 USD. Each session of physiotherapy is $7. At home my co-pay is $12.
Care: all the physiotherapist does is heat, ultrasound and electric stim. Nothing else. Didn't even give me exercises, probably because I wouldn't be able to do them as it's difficult to lift my arm to my shoulder. It's been three weeks and I don't fell better so talked to the Dr again. He gave me different drugs and added a few more medications.
The diagnosis and medications are all written on a 8x11 page of paper with the Dr's info at the top. I take this piece of paper to the chemist aka pharmacist. They fill the drugs. My first visit for 4 medications was about $10. I could have taken the "prescription" to as many chemists as I wanted. One of the drugs was an opiate (to help me sleep) and there is NO regulation.
I asked for an MRI and scheduled it for the next day. Clinic was OK. Cost up front for MRI was $160. What is it back home, $1000? I was asked to wait outside the MRI room until they finished up with the previous person. Outside the room the banging of the magnets used for the MRI was REALLY loud.
My Dr said they don't usually schedule MRIs as India is not an affluent country and he would not recommend an MRI unless he was going to operate. I guess the conservative approach has its merits and can save people money. But on the other hand the USA might way over use technology as its there. As always there's good and bad with everything.
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