E.D./E.R. in Ukraine

[andbod]

Hi,
I had a quite shocking experience in Lviv on yesterday. An expat friend had a medical emergency and we called the 056 (a private ambulance service). They come in few minutes but before even looking at his medical conditions they asked to be paid. Luckily it turned to be nothing bad and they not even transported my friend to the hospital.
As far as you know is this a common situation in Ukraine ? Would be calling 03 number better ?
I had been told from some Ukrainian friends that some local hospitals are closed during weekends, night and holidays and that no hospital in Lviv provides a walk-in E.R. (it seems quite strange).

[ecocks]

Too many Ukrainian horror stories have the hospital as the main setting.  One Ukrainian female friend is "in" the hospital but met me at McDonalds the other night.  Turns out she stays at the hospital during the day and leaves between 7 and 8 in the evening, returning in the morning.  My sister-in-law is hospitalized (pregnancy) and the family babushkas alternate sitting with her and other family prepare food and clean clothes packages which are dropped by once or twice a day.  In Kyiv, this is why I stick with AMC no matter what.  I want competent, Egnlish-speaking people around, giving orders and explaining to me what is going on.  My wife is under strict instructions that if somethign happens, do whatever it takes to keep me alive and call AMC.  THEN, notify my family and get me on a plane to the States.

[andbod]

This is exactly what I would do in case of emergency: get stabilized in Ukraine and then immediately transfered aboard. What concerns me is that if something happens at night time or during holidays I just can't have any sort of medical assistance (here in Lviv there is no any western hospital)

[ecocks]

There has to be someplace.

No friends in militsia or government?

[andbod]

Well there is a private hospital but the service quality is not of western level

[ecocks]

As they say, all you can do is, ALL you can do....

[P-N]

I use Into-Sana in Odessa (www.into-sana.com).  Thus far in two years they have sown on the end of my right thumb, drained fluid from my elbow twice (both due to using Ukrainian sub-contractors  ) and deal with all our family emergencies.

Many of the doctors and nurses speak English (not all) but you cannot even get through the front doors without having to put on blue plastic bags over your shoes.  They are equiped with top of the range equipment for everything from nuerological, traumatological, gastroenterological, dermatological, cardiological, surgical etc etc etc.

Anechka and I pay a yearly subscription of $500 family (covers all immediate family) or for a single person $250.  Everything is free apart from prescriptions from the Apteka.  Appointments are generally on time, top surgeons on call 24/7, ambulances look like ambulances not a white bus or transit van ( ) and the cleanliness would put a British hospital to shame.

You can also pay as you go for treatment without problem and they are not extortionate by any means.  Several of my Moldovan workforce have been for stitches, X-Rays etc etc and I have paid the costs which have been minimal.  They will transfer you anywhere around Ukraine (or to another medical body to take you out of Ukraine).  At present all their hospitals are based in Odessa Oblast but they have plans to expand outside.

If you do not attend the hospital more than 4 times in a year, your annual subscription the following year is discounted 50%.

Can't fault them.  

On a technical note, Ukraine and the UK have a receprical agreement that all emergencies are treated free for citizens in the respective countries. (ie I have a heart attack in Ukraine and Ukraine treat me for free until I am not critial - the same applies to a Ukrainian in the UK, the same agreement is in place with many countries so maybe worth checking if you are (at the very least) covered by this reciprical agreement in case of emergency with your respective Consol).

[ecocks]

That operation in Odessa sounds pretty reasonable.  The price is LOW by Kyiv standards.  Are they planning on expanding that you know of?

[P-N]

That operation in Odessa sounds pretty reasonable.  The price is LOW by Kyiv standards.  Are they planning on expanding that you know of?

I am led believe they have expansion plans - where they go next outside Odessa Oblast I do not know.  I would imagine either North to Kyiv or West to Lviv next, but can find out - annual inspection week on Friday  .

[Vera]

Last year my son got sick and as his condition was getting worse I decided to call the ambulance . It was three o'clock in the morning. We called REGULAR, not a private ambulance.
They came fairly quickly, doctor was very nice and knolegeble, prescribed some medicine and  I ran to a 24 hour phamacy to get those . My son was as good as new in a couple of days.
They did not ask for any money or anything at all, but we still gave them like 70 hrivnas just to thank them.

[Carlushika]

On a technical note, Ukraine and the UK have a receprical agreement that all emergencies are treated free for citizens in the respective countries. (ie I have a heart attack in Ukraine and Ukraine treat me for free until I am not critial - the same applies to a Ukrainian in the UK, the same agreement is in place with many countries so maybe worth checking if you are (at the very least) covered by this reciprical agreement in case of emergency with your respective Consol).

Nick, this is something we researched some years back. I am unsure whether I recall all the details but I believe your reciprocal agreement only covers tourists. In addition, if you are out of the country for greater than 6 months in a non-EEC country, then you forfeit your right to free NHS, subsidised dental treatment and so on, right down to winter fuel allowance!

I might be wrong and would gladly like to know whether this still applies.

[P-N]

You could well be correct - I have paid my $500 for Into-Sana here anyway, and my time in UK is so negligable (well under the time resident in the UK for the tax man to chase me).  So I will work on the risk assessment that it is unlikely that I will need medical care when I am there, and in the unlikely event that I will, it is likely to be an emergency and the shambolic administration within the NHS will treat me before they even realise I am permanently resident in Ukraine.  Any remedial work thereafter can be done by Into-Sana 

[Carlushika]

Normally with this sort of "insurance", the cost increases as you get older. For us two, would the service cover the cost of maintenance of our two zimmer frames? Also, does one have to divulge pre-existing conditions and previous medical history. It is usually the case that these are not covered or, if they are, at an additional loading on the normal premium. Does the cover include psychiatric treatment?

On leaving UK's BUPA upon retirement, one year's contributions for the two of us was £3,800 (or $7,600) which we couldn't possibly afford on my meagre pension.

[P-N]

I have just telephoned Into-Sana with your questions and the answers are as follows:

Your exisiting medical problems are also covered (regardless of what they are (including psychiatric care)) but if you are under 6 years old or over 60 years old annual cover is an extra $100 so $600 all inclusive except prescriptions.

Telephone number (should you want to confirm what I have been told) is Odessa 7772815/7772816. 

[Carlushika]

Cheers again, Nick. No thank you facility on this thread so you'll have to make do with yet another applause!

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