link to original reddit post by /u/mrpenguin_86
So, despite exuding sexiness and health as I pound down 3 pounds of nachos before sitting on my ass all day at my computer, my doctor decided my chest pains were GI issues caused by all my sexy weight. Whatever. This over the past 6 months has resulted in multiple visits to the doc, where he spent all of like 3 minutes with me each time.
I discussed this with friends who also have health issues, and I've definitely been on some reddit forums about my condition. Everyone seems to agree: doctors in the US have like 5 minutes tops for you. I'm compassionate and get it: primary care docs have like 3000-5000 patients under them. It's insane.
However, my progressive friends seem to have a much different take on this: capitalism hates people. The docs only spend 5 minutes because profit motive. They throw pills as you because profit motive (even though I feel like throwing more in-clinic tests at me would be more profitable??). Docs in actual hospitals don't have much time for you because profit motive and capitalist health care.
This begs the question, for those of you in socialist countries or who have experience with the day to day stuff in such countries: What are day-to-day health care interactions like in socialist countries? Do doctors give people all the time they need to properly diagnose you or are they just as slammed as they are in the US with patients? Are hospital doctors doing just 8 hour shifts and totally laid back or are they also pulling 18-hour shifts and conducting surgeries with staff starting 30-hour shifts like in the US?
Are my friends right or are they living in a fairy tale land?