No pain, no gain: How doctors see us

It has been a while since I last wrote for this blog. Far away from having nothing to say, so today I have something interesting to report!

Last week I was visiting a new doctor as my last visit to another one was not really what I had expected. Since two months I had waited for a "Termin" in order to discuss my health with a professional in the field. I wanted to double check with him some recurring back pains before taking on some more active sports. My point was to be able to know more about possible treatments and preventive activities and so on. It only took him a few seconds to say:

He: - Are you in pain now?

Me: - Not right now, but I want to receive some professional advice and preventive methods to avoid it in the future.

He: - Well, I am afraid I cannot do anything for you now since you do not have any pains.

The German system is actually effective IF you are in pain. Prevention is not something he apparently heard about. Quite unpleased with his answer I started to search for a new doctor and a second opinion. After another month of waiting, I ended up with the same result. It doesn't matter that I want to take care of myself and tackle the issue before it becomes a problem. I need to be in pain before they are able to help me. Once again I must be dependent of them to receive any help. Basically they act like drug dealers. Everything is allowed till you are hooked. Then you are at their mercy. I, you, us will pay anything to get rid of the pain.

Back in the time when Greece was one of the leaders of Europe doctors were only paid by healthy people. Being sick was enough for them to not pay them. I am sure the doctors would act differently if they could only afford their life style if we were all in good health. 

However, we live in a crazy world where doctors seem to make money if we are in pain and depending on their work and expensive non working medicines (Please check this book, interesting facts about pharma companies products). Medicine has gone a long way and can make miracles happen indeed. But first you need to be able to pay for it. And that's where they want us to be: in their hands with no where else to go. Only then we will be ready to pay them whatever they ask.