Live data from Hacker News

Difficulties accessing medical services as an EU immigrant in Germany

medium.com

1–10 of 37 posts

Re: Difficulties accessing medical services as an EU immigrant in Germany

#4
While I could possibly sympathize a bit with the parts of the post dealing the frustration of dealing with German bureaucracy, after having experienced the Italian health care (having experienced both personally), I don't understand the sense of privelage.

As a non-eu immigrant in Germany things are far worse and IMHO one just trades health care issues for other issues if one were to move the other way (Germany to Italy)... Or for that matter anywhere else in the world.

Seems like the apt scenario for the quote "When in Rome..."

Re: Difficulties accessing medical services as an EU immigrant in Germany

#5
post #2

Gotta follow the rules in Deutschland! Not so in Italy...

I feel like you did not get the point. I'm criticizing exactly this rule which does not make any sense, imho. I am not comparing the two countries.

Doesn't matter if the rules don't make sense, they still have to be followed. Franz Kafka even wrote a book or two about this.

Re: Difficulties accessing medical services as an EU immigrant in Germany

#8
The issue of how to fund welfare services, particularly health care, is basically the most difficult challenge faced by every government.

Health care budgets in most major countries seem to be growing faster than their ability to pay for them.

Naturally, every citizen and every immigrant feels like they should be able access whatever health care they need whenever they need it, particularly in an emergency.

And the notion that critical health care is a fundamental human right that should be provided to everyone is a reasonable one.

But it still doesn't address the question of how governments pay for all the staff and facilities and supplies that it takes to run a health system, particularly when so many western countries - Germany more so than any other - have just had a huge influx of people who need access to welfare services but aren't paying taxes to help fund it.

I don't have answers, I just know it's a hard problem and it's only getting harder.

But here's a suggestion: I think the post would be stronger if you were able to consider things from the point of view of the government who is faced with the challenge of providing and funding their health system, and of setting the right incentives for people to contribute their fair share of the costs and only use the services they really need.

Post reply on HN