It’s Gertrude again reporting from the wonderful territory Down Under. My trip so far has been incredible and it isn’t even over yet! I have to report now a more unfortunate part of my adventure… I got a little stomach bug. Or at least that is what I am hoping that it was. I still am not quite sure as to how I caught the little pest, but none the less, it managed to slow me down just a little bit.
I woke up the other morning, during our stay in Australia, and my stomach felt like there was a cage fight going on inside. It was awful and really not what I wanted to happen. My initial thoughts were “this is not seriously happening and how in the world am I going to see a doctor?” I don’t even like going to the doctors in Chapel Hill because it always takes forever and they never seem to prescribe the medicine that works the best. I thought about just resting for the day and trying to take it easy, as my own cure for my illness. But my stomach did not enjoy the intense pains and fighting going on inside so I embarked on a journey to find a doctor and some medicine.
I found a hospital by just searching online for the closest one to where I was staying in the city of Canberra. I was not really aware of the health care protocol or about going to typical physician’s office, so I decided that the hospital might be easiest for guaranteed care. I chose the Canberra Hospital that is in Woden Valley. When I first arrived I was a little weary of the establishment because it didn’t look quite like the hospital at UNC. I was used to the multiple, massive buildings but what I found was one large brick hospital.
I did not know what the system was going to be for seeing a doctor. I was nervous, but I figured it has to happen to tourists and I can’t possibly be the first. It ended up being pretty similar as going to the doctor in the states I figured out. Oh and just so you don’t worry… I don’t die. It was just a forty-eight hour bug. But back to my experience at the doctor, the health care system in Australia appeared to me to be pretty effective and efficient. There were a lot of people trying to see a doctor like myself, just for typical colds and bugs. The hospital that I went to is a large teaching hospital, so when I got to see the doctor, there was actually a student with him practicing to become a physician as well.
I had to pay a small amount to see the doctor, since I was not a citizen of Australia. I figured out from being there, that for public patients to come to the hospital it is free. The Australian and State governments jointly fund public hospital funds under their Medicare program. In Australia, the health care system is a mix of public and private sectors that work to provide efficient and affordable health care for all citizens. With the recent health care reforms back in the United States, I was interested in the health care of Australia. Anyone with Australian or New Zealand citizenship or people with permanent visas are eligible for Medicare. The Medicare program is funded by taxes and levy system that is based off of income. The expenditures for health in Australia are growing rapidly due to aids, appliances, and pharmaceuticals. It is still below the amount spent in the United States .
Overall, my trip to the hospital was a pleasant one. The doctors were friendly and it was pretty similar to the processes I was used to in Chapel Hill. I actually heard that a few doctors were from the United States actually that were traveling doctors and that they decided to come to work in Australia for some time. Unfortunately, I had to sit the bug out because there was no medicine that the doctor could prescribe, but it passed quickly and I am so excited to continue on my adventure to Fiji!
I must admit that I was a little worried at first about going to Fiji because I thought that it might have some of the major tropical diseases that are found on other islands. To my surprise and to my relief I learned that Fiji is free of malaria, yellow fever, and other major tropical diseases. Before I left for Fiji though, I had to provide proof of my yellow fever vaccination. For obvious reasons they didn't want anyone infected coming to their area. I had heard stories as well about people who travel to other areas and and drink the water and are sick as dogs. After my bug in Australia I didn't want to end up at the doctors again so I was skeptical about drinking the water. Come to find out all the water in the main cities is treated and completely safe to drink! I was curious to learn about Fiji's medical system as well since I had learned all about Australia's. It's an effective medical system too, but many of the local people still swear by herbal remedies. I personally don't know about all that. I would much rather just get an antibiotic, but if they swear by it, then possibly it is the way to go.
Well that's all folks! I'll be back to blogging soon enough. :)
Gertrude
Works Cited:
http://www.luxuryhideaways.net/fiji/health_info_fiji.htm
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/services/acir/index.jsp
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