Health Care in Korea

Hello loved ones,

I am learning first hand the Korean health care system as I have been having many health challenges over the last couple of months. Sinusitis, bronchitis, three weeks of diarreah, and a hard fall in the subway, where I was tripped but my intention to catch the train I was running for prevailed, resulting in emotional trauma, sprained thumbs and wrists on both hands, an incomplete fracture in my left wrist, banged up knees, and sore muscles everywhere.

I was amazed when I spent less than 30 minutes waiting for care from a doctor who was located less than a five minute walk from my home. Including a chest x-ray and a consultation, the total cost was 5000 Won (about $3.50, yes that is three dollars and fifty cents). My jaw dropped when they told me the price. A trip to the next floor of the same building to purchase the prescription drugs recommended (six different types of pills, all packaged by breakfast, lunch, or dinner, within small/pocket sized seal-a-meal-type wax paper packets that were clearly labeled (in Korean, of course) for when to take each packet. No hard to open plastic bottles and only five days worth of drugs, not the two plus weeks worth I would have had in the US. And the cost for all of this organization? A mere 8200 Won which is about $5.00! After my fall, I had numerous x-rays to determine whether I had broken anything and even then paid only about $40 and spent only an hour or so having it all done (and this included both someone at the hospital who voluntarily translated for me, as well as a volunteer who followed me around for several hours, carrying my backpack and coat which were too heavy for my injured hands to hold).

I was not as impressed with the effectiveness of the medications as I would have enjoyed. In fact, juggling so many drugs and schedules (the six pills plus cough syrup plus Pepto-Bismol-like packages plus rehydrating fluids at different times of the day) had me overwhelmed so that I stopped using my essential oils for a week or so and things actually got worse over several ways.

I definitely was not impressed with the compassion and understanding shown by me co-workers and boss who, despite doctors orders to stay at home for five days, continued to call me and tell me to come to work and threaten many consequences if I made taking care of myself a priority over the needs of my students and their schools (but that is another story for another day that I cannot even tell today without a great deal of outrage and desire for justice).

Someone told me that the President of Korea had actually suggested that Korea adopt a similar style of healthcare as America. Koreans seem to want anything American-like, even to their own detriment. Not sure yet how that one will turn out but I for one sure hope they do not move that direction-or it will cost them dearly. Just thinking about it stirs in me a huge desire to play Michael Moore's film Sicko for them all. If you haven't seen it yet, it is a tear-jerker as well as a roll-in-the-isle-with-laughter film that I highly recommend checking out.

Despite all my health challenges, I have another situation that is taking even more of my energy these days. I have given 60 days notice to my current employer. Despite the fact that I did this over 30 days ago, she has yet to accept this notification. So I am coping with her daily desperate attempts to trick me into signing another agreement with her, job hunting, and learning about laws, resources, and other networking to support a just outcome for all (at least three teachers who have left her employ over the last several weeks have not been paid what they are due, including myself), including speaking with attorneys, the Korean Ministry of Labor, and my empathy support friends. There is a position that seems like my dream-job so say a prayer for me that I get this job (two out of three necessary interviews have gone extremely well already).

That's all the energy I have for the moment. Next time I hope to write about Korean food. Yum! So stay tuned.

With love from Asia,
Terri
P.S. If you are so moved, I hope you will join me in voting for ideas for change in America, suggesting that the Obama administration incorporate empathy into the US government (see side bar for more info., or email me for even more details of how to do this).