Today I went to the hospital here in Kharkov...

[Thor]

I have read on several web sites that public hospitals here in Ukraine is terrible. The last 2 days Have I had trouble with my eyes, and yesterday evening my eyes got really painfull. So today Rena's sister took my to hospital. I expected that she would take me to a private hospital, but no. She told me that private hospitals was very expensive so thats why we went to a public one. The Doctor spook English and he was very helpfull. He told that everything would be fine, gave me some medicine. I asked Sveta how much I should pay, but she it is OK. I saw her put some money in the nurses pocket...When we where out in the streets she told me that i must by the docktor a bottel of wine or conjak. ...Very different from Norway:)).

Antway the I got was ok. The public hospital was ok, even if the equipment was VERY old. So I don't think that anybody should be afraid of using this hospitals.

[groovlstk]

I've yet to hear anything negative on RWD about Russian/Ukrainian docs, but here's an alarming piece from The Exile:

http://www.exile.ru/2006-November-03/the_roving_russophobe.html

[Gator]

Thor,

Glad to hear your eyes are no longer Thor (sorry, sore).  Could not resist it.

Seriously, be careful with Russian medicine.  Most of it seems the same as what is sold in America, but I am always concerned when I read the word "India" on the packing slip.

Americans are over-medicated, and my limited experience suggests Russians are the same, if not more so.
 

[smartcat]

Thor, it's very common mistake of buying cognac or wine either candies to doctors! Old wrong tradition many Ukrainians follow... those who don't have close relatives-docs and don't understand the situation. Usually good cognac is bought to male doctors, candies - to females.
Money , even small money is best for them, they are paid ridiculuosly in city hospitals. But there are still many good profies.
I worked in medical field and still have got many friends working in. Often I was a witness how a lady-doctor gets her $140 a month (yes! one hundred forty usd!) to survive and a pack of candy every day from grateful patients... Can you imagine a joy of a pediatrist and her nurce while an old woman brought them two big jars of wonderful fresh juicy strawberries from her garden? They cured her granddaughter. The old woman felt ashamed and said -
" I want to be grateful to you, but my pension is too small to buy you cognac or candies... Would you take these strawberries from me? "

Doctors sincerely assured her it was a wonderful present and their kids will be much happy with berries.
Bring basket of fruits to docs or good piece of meat to make them more happy.
But money are still better!

[DKMM]

For something minor its probably not a big deal but you'd never see me get elective surgery in the FSU.

I know a guy that had an emergency appendectomy in the boondocks of Vietnam 7 years ago when he was out there on a Mormon mission.  Scary but it turned out ok.

[Thor]

Yesterday I went back to the docktor because he wanted to have a new look at my eyes..It turned out that he had worked 3 years in French part of Canada...Anyway I broth to him some Champagne because Renas sister told me to do that, BUT the docktor told me that he did not drink at all....very acquired situation for me. I felt confused and a bit ashamed. I asked Rena if I should pay him money but Rena said Njet. But he was extremely helpfull and tougth that it was very funny to have a English speaking pation, in fact he took me to several offices in the hospital to show this "strange" pation...