Living in Malta:

The First Doctor Visit

I went for my first routine visit to a new doctor. This is the first time I've been to a doctor in another country. I heard the health care system was different in Malta, so I expected something different. Some things I really liked; just a few things I didn't like so far.

There were so many differences between a visit to a typical American doctor and a visit to a typical Maltese doctor that I'm going to list them and compare them one-by-one. But because this post will take some time (after all, the American health care and insurance system is a major reason I left the States), I'm going to make just the first comparison right now.

The Appointment

The US: Back in the States I have to call and make an appointment. Sometimes I get a nice receptionist; sometimes not. Sometimes I get an voice mail with lots of options--If emergency, press 1 now. If dead, press 2. Then--if declared dead, please hang up and call religious institution. If not declared dead yet, please dial 1 to get the receptionist to make an appointment. Please have your health insurance number ready. I cannot come in to the office to see my personal doctor. I need to make an appointment. I may very well be seen the same day if it's my general practitioner, but I must make that call first.

Malta: To see the doctor, I didn't need an appointment. I found this out by calling the pharmacy where my doctor--referred by a Maltese friend--visits patients. In Malta, most pharmacies are associated with one or more private doctors who see patients in an office/examining room in the back of the pharmacy. So the pharmacy itself is like a small waiting room. The pharmacist was the one who answered the phone. She told me the doctor's hours for the week, and said to just come in and wait. She also gave me his mobile number--yes, my American friends--his mobile number. The pharmacist also said the doctor makes home visits. He makes home visits. I have fond memories of my childhood doctor making home visits, but no more. American doctors--for the most part--never make home visits. And, yes, that includes if you need to be declared dead. If so, you must make that appointment--as stated above--and arrange for transportation to the office. If you're starting to decompose, you may be turned away and sent to the emergency room where everyone waits so long that several other people will die and you won't feel alone.

Next post will be about the differences between a US doctor's office and a Maltese doctor's office.

This is my last post as a guest blogger on Wired Malta.com. I'd like to thank Robert for his invitation, and I've enjoyed writing directly to the Maltese people and receiving your comments. If you would like to see the rest of this topic, please visit my site at An-American-in-Malta.com Remember to click on the ads :). And if you know any Maltese professionals or businesses who want to run an ad on the blog, please get in touch. Sahha and Ciao!