That antibiotic... what was its name? (just curiosity :)About our Public Health Service... As you know I'm pregnant, so now I have all chanses to appreciate it. Maybe I'm too categorical, but I don't think we have any... besides, do you know, what level of education is now at our medical institutes? To pass an exam at the Novosibirsk Medical Institute you have to pay a fantastic sum!!! Until you put that very sum in your record-book, you have no chanses to pass it, no matter how you know the subject. In a couple of years we are going to face a problem, that can hardly be solved... We'll have a lot of alumnae, who know about treating people less than a janitor, that washes floors at that institute.

Веселинка_Малопопка, chanCes and what is "alumnae"? And, by the way, do you know how will "глазированный сырок" be in English? Of course, the level of education is not like it is supposed to be. But the doctor who prescribed me those antibiotics (I don't remember its name, unfortunately) was not very young, and I think she had got her higher education at hte time of the Soviet Union. And then education was much better.

alumnae - latin word, means people, that graduated the University.

Веселинка_Малопопка, the singular form is "alumnus"? Am I right?

When I used to live in Russia, I had a lot of complaints as well, but I had nothing to compare with!!! I have an 8-month-old son. I gave birth to him in Russia and according to Russian foundations, on the very first day of our coming back home from the maternity hospital, a paediatrician in charge came to check him, then his health, weight, height was monthly checked. When he caught a cold, he was treated with camomile tea and salty water. When there was a suspition he might have CNS disorders, he had all the ezaminations made, which, thank God, proved to be all right, but the dorctor still prescribed quite strong drugs - those given to enderly people suffering from senility. The thing is it is proved that sometimes positive effect of such medicines outweighs the risks of the possible disease complications... So our doctors often play safe and prescribe antibiotics and strong medicines :( They might be right though... Still, it's up to us to decide if we'll take them or not! And the situation abroad is much worse!!! I'm a memeber of a chat where there are lots of Russian moms who live abroad. And all of the "trevellers" say that they would prefer their children to be treated in Russia! The problem is insurance in Korea (or any other "civilized" country), which means that your child is not checked if he is not ill (shows symptoms of illness), which leads to the fact that most diseases that could be detected at early stage and treated to the complete recovery are not taken care of in time!!! Doctors do not check a baby's fontanel, skin. If a baby is coughing, they treat it with antibiotics on spot! Dysbacteriosis and skin problems are considered to be NORMAL at early age and are not taken care of... Sorry for being too emotional, but that's the sore point. Still I think Russian medicine is one of the best in the world (but for the lack of proper equipment and fake medicines)...

Мышка-Машка, I think it's normal to be emotional for a mother) Of course, you are anxious about your baby) I haven't known up to this moment that there may be worse problems with medicine in the world! Well, my husband works for the Ford Motor Company at the present moment, and there he has the opportunity to get the medical certificate not only for himself but for one member of the family too, so I have this certificate too. Owing to it I can get the medical care in the payment clinics but FREE OF CHARGE (of course, if I really have problems with health). Some misprints: eXamination and eLderly.

Absolutely agree :) - Always in a hurry ;)

Мышка-Машка, thanks a lot for your story. We have a lot of complaints about our Medical Service. But some of my friends who live abroad said awful things about national Medicine Service in those countries, so I’m even happy I live in Russia.  When doctors prescribe anything I always try to check the information using the Internet resources and never buy medicine/drugs without reading instructions first.

Веселинка_Малопопка, almost the same situation they have at the Tver Medical Academy… Sometimes students need to pay money if they want to pass exams. And the foreign students who even don’t know Russian well enough to understand their teachers…and then have practice in the hospitals…They are dangerous!

Sepa, oh, it's awful to meet such a graduate when you're ill(