The author recounts an incident during a family vacation in Brazil where he suffered a head injury and was surprised to find that his subsequent medical care, which included ambulance transport and various scans, was entirely free. This experience highlighted Brazil's universal health care system, which guarantees free care to every citizen and foreign resident, underscoring a profound disparity in health care approaches compared to the United States. The author reflects on the implications of this during a time when health care is a significant political issue in America.
"Even after six years in Brazil as The Washington Post's Rio de Janeiro bureau chief, I confess one of my first thoughts was stubbornly American. Out of the murkiness, it came with sudden clarity: How much is this going to cost me?"
"Health care is a basic right in Brazil, enshrined in the constitution. Every one of its 215 million citizens - in addition to 2 million foreign residents - is entitled to free care in what has become the world's largest public health system."
"Six hours later - after an ambulance ride, CT scan, X-ray cranial imaging and six stitches in my head - I had my answer: $0."
Collection
[
|
...
]