Public hospitals free in Caracas?

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justasking

Hi!
Venezuela Doctors are generally ones of the best prepared.
They have a lot of experience, and they know how to work under pressure and with very little resources. They're inventive and generally warm. They tend to be the best when they travel and work abroad. No doubt about that! In Venezuela, they tend to experience things from very early in their careers, which doesn't happen in other countries as easily.
However, the public hospital system, is another story.
Generally, there's always a lack of materials and supplies -from the most basic to the most complicated. They can be free, but you'll probably have to buy the supplies for your treatment yourself (this includes central lines, and even shots). In some, the elevators don't even work and the waiting line is extremely huge.
Sanitation is not the best either. And, do consider that the Venezuelan security and judicial system is not very reliable, so it is quite unseen to sue a doctor for malpractice, unless you have a lot of money.

If you are talking about travel vaccinations (like, for example, against yellow fever, which you need to travel to the Amazon), you HAVE to pay for it. Of course, it will be waaaaaaay cheaper than in Canada. But you still have to pay.
Occasionally there are free vaccination campaigns in Venezuela (for kids and grown ups), but that's only when there are decease breakouts (like the relatively recent measles one).

And... about lonely planet. I love those books. But, c'mon. Don't believe everything you read! And much less about Venezuela! In Venezuela you have a great restaurant one day, and a 5star hotel... and three weeks later they are all ugly and messed up! (not always the case, but it tends to happen quite often) Be aware!

Goodluck!

Nicole W

hi, hospitals are free, but most of them are not that reliable, meaning that most of them do not have enough supplies. In case of an emergency, you may be well treated if you offer them some money. Besides, you will see many bad things in those, like people badly shot etc. So if you can afford it, it is better if you go to private clinics.

andflors

Care in the main hospitals is free but you need to buy/have someone to buy for you medicines etc. and supply food bedding etc.
The stardard of care is very good as a rule. (doctors trained in VE can transfer to the UK)
If you go private you'll get cable TV but when things go wrong you'll end up in the main hospital like every one else.

As far as travel jabs I guess you could buy them in a parmacy there and get a doc to give them to you. But they won't be free.

Double You

I would suggest that if it's a public hospital and it's in Venezuela, don't go near it. Most probably the hygiene is awful, how they attend you and most importantly your security. Normally these public/free hospitals are located near the most poor and insecure places of Venezuela. Again, don't go near them becuase I'd rather pay hundreds of dollars for vaccines that with my life. Make the right choice, not the easiest one.

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