Page 130 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 130
ko Prosen, Sabina Ličen, Urška Bogataj, Doroteja Rebec, and Igor Karnjuš
whatever you want. Perhaps not everything but, [. . .] when I had trouble
with tonsillitis, I went to see to a physician working in the private sector.
He sent me off to buy infusion, injections and an infusion set from the
pharmacy. [INTE_23_1_KOS]
Corruption is another element of healthcare services and a further aspect
or consequence of health disparities which considerably affects people’s lives
and health. A woman from Serbia described:
From another perspective, the public sector works by the same rules as
the private one. If you bring them money, you will be taken care of, no
matter what. My father broke a leg 10 years ago and, even though he
was insured, my grandfather had to pay for his operation because the
doctor knew he worked in Germany. My grandfather had to take the
doctor to the store so that he could buy whatever he wanted. So [. . .] if
you are poor, it’s better that you don’t go to the doctor. [INTE_22_1_SRB]
Women’s health is also exposed to such health disparities and socio-
economic status is a powerful predictor of women’s health. Two women from
Bosnia and Herzegovina stated:
I went to a gynaecologist in both a public and private institution. In
the private institution, I paid for the services, but I believe they were
performed better. [INTE_25_3_BIH]
I can go to a public institution for a gynaecological examination but
still, if you do not pay, no one will take a look at you. [INTE_32_1_BIH]
Healthcare services during childbirth seem to be limited in the public
health institutions of some interviewees’ countries of origin. A woman from
Kosovo who gave birth in Slovenia said:
[. . .] I couldn’t do it without an epidural. The physician (a woman) ex-
plained. I was scared [. . .] I‘m glad I decided on an epidural (in Slovenia).
I know that if I had given birth in Kosovo it would have been terrifying.
[INTE_23_1_KOS]
A similar story was told by a woman from Bosnia and Herzegovina con-
cerning prenatal check-ups as she experienced them in Slovenia.
128
whatever you want. Perhaps not everything but, [. . .] when I had trouble
with tonsillitis, I went to see to a physician working in the private sector.
He sent me off to buy infusion, injections and an infusion set from the
pharmacy. [INTE_23_1_KOS]
Corruption is another element of healthcare services and a further aspect
or consequence of health disparities which considerably affects people’s lives
and health. A woman from Serbia described:
From another perspective, the public sector works by the same rules as
the private one. If you bring them money, you will be taken care of, no
matter what. My father broke a leg 10 years ago and, even though he
was insured, my grandfather had to pay for his operation because the
doctor knew he worked in Germany. My grandfather had to take the
doctor to the store so that he could buy whatever he wanted. So [. . .] if
you are poor, it’s better that you don’t go to the doctor. [INTE_22_1_SRB]
Women’s health is also exposed to such health disparities and socio-
economic status is a powerful predictor of women’s health. Two women from
Bosnia and Herzegovina stated:
I went to a gynaecologist in both a public and private institution. In
the private institution, I paid for the services, but I believe they were
performed better. [INTE_25_3_BIH]
I can go to a public institution for a gynaecological examination but
still, if you do not pay, no one will take a look at you. [INTE_32_1_BIH]
Healthcare services during childbirth seem to be limited in the public
health institutions of some interviewees’ countries of origin. A woman from
Kosovo who gave birth in Slovenia said:
[. . .] I couldn’t do it without an epidural. The physician (a woman) ex-
plained. I was scared [. . .] I‘m glad I decided on an epidural (in Slovenia).
I know that if I had given birth in Kosovo it would have been terrifying.
[INTE_23_1_KOS]
A similar story was told by a woman from Bosnia and Herzegovina con-
cerning prenatal check-ups as she experienced them in Slovenia.
128
