511 Neurosurgery, Oncology, Orthopedic surgery, and Thoracic surgery clinics in Europe

I felt I was in great hands from start to finish & very much appreciated the care shown. Everyone from the consultant, ward team & theatre team did their very best to provide fantastic care. The physiotherapists were also fantastic & really worked hard to get me mobile & discuss any worries. Having such a great, knowledgeable, caring & welcoming team really does put a very stressful situation at ease - The team at the Albyn is second to none.

Attentive and very friendly staff! I postponed my surgery for so many years and so glad that I did it at Albyn hospital. The whole experience was very smooth and professional. Wouldn't have minded to get pampered by the staff a bit longer. Thank you for the amazing experience!

All the nurses and other staff were really nice to me. Always making sure I was ok before and after the surgery. My only questions are about my surgery which will be discussed with my doctor in a few weeks. But overall I had a good staying at Albyn. Thank you.

My doctors were helpful, skilled, professional and provided me a lot of information. After operation services and information is complete with high priority to the after operation services. The urgence for post opération patients was fast and of full service. The nurses when I came before the operation were too busy, they let me in, gave me my wrist tag and gave me 3 medicines but let me waited 2 hours and no one came back to me to update me that the operation will within 2 hours of waiting . I came at 8h50 and the actual operation is at 11h15, in between the waiting hours, no one has came to re assure me and update me of the schedule that made me nervous and worried for 2 hours. All nurses were so busy that morning and talks a lot to each other without double checking or just to give a quick short words to me for 2 hours in the waiting room before the Anesthesist picked me up. Thank you.

I was very well looked after for my first pregnancy. The team was superb, whether it was for the pregnancy follow-up, the day of the birth or the aftermath of the birth. For this alone I say bravo! But above all, I love the student nurses we met, who were full of compassion and kindness, much more than the nurses themselves. I don't give 5 stars because there is still a lot of room for improvement: - at all my pregnancy follow-up appointments, the wait always lasted more than an hour even though we were told to arrive 30 min before the appointment 🙄 - cold administrative reception - a lady at the analysis laboratory shouted at an old man who didn't understand the process (taking a ticket, waiting etc.) when he had just asked nicely what to do - we were scared when our baby was born, that he couldn't latch on, that he was going to starve to death, that we had to go to the osteopath...when a few days later our baby gained weight. We didn't understand the point of scaring us so much when in the end everything was going well.

I am impressed with the level of the hospital, attitude of medical and medical care. Grateful my surgery was handled here with great professionalism. Merci bien!

Reliable clinic with qualified professionals in one well-equipped building. However, prices are rather high, so private medical insurance is recommended. I mainly used insurance with franchise % (partial cover) during the past few years to make all doctor appointments and urgent care. Also I like to buy pirozhki with coffee in a local cafe 🥪 :)

Very accommodating, friendly and helpful staff. It is straightforward to locate the necessary directing signage. clean and well-maintained. The restroom is everywhere. In the waiting spaces, there are couches and drinking water stations. There is a cafe with free internet access and spacious waiting area.

Nice outer image, but Soviet Union on the inside! Customer service is tantamount to what you would expect from the good old Cold War days, with "doctors" that immediately give you the impression that you are beneath them and unworthy of their attention. Very disappointed with my most recent experience despite using them once before and being generally pleased. Come prepared to deal with third-world customer service, a bedside manner that leaves you unsure of what to expect, and doctors that have no empathy much less interest in being kind and professional.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the gastroenterology department and all the staff. To the doctors - Fedoruk Oksana Stepanovna, head of the department and attending physician Sinyavskaya Alexandra Vladimirovna. These are people who are in their places. Caring, attentive, always on the lookout for our interests and health. All procedures are prescribed and carried out comprehensively and in a timely manner. Additional examinations are sought to be carried out with other specialists. Open, honest and professional. This department is like one family. Cleanliness, attentiveness to patients. All the staff tries to make our life more comfortable. We wish there were more departments like this)

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the radiological department from my father Vladimir Ostapuk, who received treatment from you and from me personally! Thank you very much to all the staff and the head of the department, Valentin Eduardovich! Good health to you and thank you for your concern!

I have been in the anti-tuberculosis dispensary since April 25, of these 16 days I was treated (examined) for only 4-5 days. The conditions here are terrible (the best word I could find). Cockroaches, food, as well as the negligence of the attending doctors and staff, is worse than ever. If it were possible to put stars in minus, then we would have collected all -5. I don’t advise anyone to come here, or even end up in the hospital.

I had a great experience giving birth at UKE. everyone working there was super nice, cooperative and friendly at the registration and at the Kreißaal as well as in the postpartum care. We requested the family room, which became available in few hours post our request ( you do need to keep following up the availability status of the room til you get it though ) For the mom, you need to get a shirt/ dress to give birth in. And pjs for afterwards as well as the bathing supplies For the baby, you will only need to have the go home outfit and maybe a pacifier. All else will be supplied by the hospital. The meals served are really good too. Not the typical tasteless hospital food .. you will need to have some snacks with you for in between the meals especially if you’re planning on breastfeeding. All in all, i had a really good experience and highly recommend the hospital

Waste of time! I got food posioned and waited for hours! Nobody checked me and I had to leave because another patient came and told us she was waiting for 7 hours. I mean this is an emergency, it shouldn't be like that. Aside from all these stuff there was very rude. I was fighting with pain and with the people at the same time. Not even talking about the money I paid for the taxi because I thought I can get help here. I don't know what I am gonna do if I ever have more risky situations like that. This has to be changed.

18 year old friend of mine has been hospitalized due to a tumor. because of a so called "emergency" a vacation had to be cancelled and he didn't even make it into the infirmary. during the operation they managed to injure the liver (which isn't exactly spottet on the head) and he was in a critical state. he died less than a week after the operation and the doctors had the audacity to say "have a nice evening". worst hospital ever. will make sure none of my loved one's ever go there again.

Very bad hospitality.

My girlfriend went to their E.R. It took them seven hours to accommodate us. A nurse misplaced her chart adding to the delay. I understand that there is a triage system that prioritizes severe or emergency cases but waiting for the whole day is absurd. It was especially hard for us, since we are foreigners and cannot speak fluent German. Honestly, it was a horrible experience.

Super...

I am a professional who moved here to contribute to uplift industrial activity in my own area. Heard great input from friends on Helios, about English speaking staff, better handling than long and declining German medical system. When registered my wife for birth and checkup at the last stage of pregnancy - and recently visited, the rooms are hot (making the patient more inconvenient), then we requested female doctor/nurse due to our own comfort and values, but instead when the female doctor arrived she ended up giving me lecture to understand their culture, you are in germany, even in your home country there are only Male doctors & Staff (which she doesn't know 60-70% of medical employees are female in my home country). She was straight forward denying the service if we do not agree on the male attendant. We had no other option but to say yes, however, this has been traumatic experience turned from a happy moment. As a Service provider the doctor should be able to provide a relaxing and comfortable environment. And the treatment was not something that couldn't be done alone when requested. It was a one person job, she could have do it herself, but forced to have male attendant to just hand over tissues or so. And even after that told me to expect male attendant regardless you want or not during delivery.. Service providing is the key. highly disappointed.

I could put 0 or -5 if that was possible. I guess 1 star goes to nursing personnel some of whom were nice. My mother was admitted there with stomach cancer and fluids in abdomen supposedly for immune therapy (we know it is a last resort). Doctor (Ali Nuri Hunerliturkoglu) even wasn't fully aware of the diagnosis at the admission. At putting the port for immune therapy/chemotherapy, lung was punctured leading to an infection. Biopsy results were late, hence no promised immune therapy was provided just a general, non-specific chemotherapy, which weakened the patient together with hospital-induced punctured lung and infection to the point of not being able to walk and normally function. No help at all, just prolonging of suffering. To top it off, transportation to pick her up and deliver home was not allowed to approach hospital premises and a lying patient on a rolling bed had to be transported for 10 minutes outside in the cold. Avoid if possible

I had this year three operations in Krefeld hospital.Two of them was not planned one of them was planned.Everything goes smootly.Personal are very friendly doctors also will try to explain everything till the end.Food quality also not that bad like hospital food.My plate was empty always.I had only one small minus the pillow for your head its like a carpet to clean your shoes so tin and not comfy at all 😀 Even this hospital is one hour where i live but anyway i would always choose this hospital and recommendate to others

one day I was very sick and had to go to the Emergency. They said they would not treat me. Because I had to be referred to the home doctor first. I wonder which house doctor can be reached at 4 in the morning? They didn't treat me and I wasn't even able to walk. I cried and had to go to another hospital. Besides, the staff working there were very rude. They were talking to me as if they were shouting at me. And even when I asked some questions, they wouldn't even answer me. They didn't even look at me because I was a foreigner. I do not recommend it to anyone. If I had fainted there, I think they would have referred me to a home doctor.

I visited for the second time the emergency today. The first time nobody could point out a doctor as nobody could speak even a little bit English. Today I found a kind lady in the morning reception who gave me instructions to come again at 18:00, visit the 1st floor, to see a doctor for my emergency. I did. As I arrived I said that I don't speak German. None of the assistamts there could speak. They kept my Insurance Card and I was waiting for my turn. I heard my name and a nurse gave me a cup to pee. I used google translate to ask what the cup has to do with my pain and if they have at least someone speaking a little bit English to say what my problem was. They were explaining to me in German and as I could not understand they were just rolling eyes. If you are German prepare to get some rude responses as the specific assistant was yelling to people. If you do not speak German prepare to die as the punishment for not knowing German is death. I feel very disappointed

Really shocking service - be ready to waste your time. I wonder - what would the world be like if we all had the same attitude to each other as the staff do to their patients? HORRIBLE

I had to attend the oftalmología urgencias department and the four staff present treated me fantastically. This was on Saturday October 7, and they were busy all day. I had lots of tests and was given an appointment to return on Monday to the main department for a revision. Spain really has the best public care in the world, I'm sure of it. Muchas gracias.

The urgent care facility is dirty, poorly organized. The staff engages in unsanitary practices: trash receptacles-including those that take hazardous waste are left uncovered, and you often see trash littering the floor around the trash cans. Also, multiple patients are asked to sit and lie on the same paper covering on the examining tables. I saw this in multiple examining rooms. The doctor who cared for me, Manuel Luis Gomez Blanco, was rude, impatient and haughty. He tried to dismiss me after treating me for only one of the ailments I came for. It was a very unpleasant experience, but I was able to get the treatment I sought. I just should not have had to deal with such an unprofessional environment and uncaring treatment by staff. I am fortunate my ailments were not life threatening.

I didn’t even want to give you a star. First this La Paz hospital is not friendly to English speaking patients. For international tourists or expats! You will die here . I brought my daughter to their ER. She was having shortness of breath..due to her asthma exacerbation. they made us wait for 3 hours but no treatment given nor tests done. Horrible private hospital. I went to see the doctor to tell her that my daughter needs to be nebulized. Instead of talking to me properly. They sent me out because none of them speaks English and they said wait to be called ! For 3 hours of waiting nobody gave my child management nor diagnostic procedure ! They didn’t care as to what I was pleading for . i will complain to Adeslas my health insurance and will make a report on this . I’m a dermatologist and a medical journalist from the philippines. I know the management to asthma very well. Their doctors/ nurses are all rude and with no empathy to patients. They should have. English speaking representative for the tourists coming to Spain. It’s pathetic that they have no treatment .-

Awful. Patient Management is closed when it have to work. No response via phone to ask why you must pay specific amount of money and for which services. Huge respect for doctors, but management of clinic is awful and they deserve even less than 1 point out of 5.

After almost 30 hours, they still don’t know when they can perform surgery on my kidney stone. They only gave me 5 glasses of water! When I asked them about my situation and the plan, nobody answered! I’m thirsty, hungry, and in pain from the stone for more than 1 day. This is simply the worst hospital I have ever seen in my life!

Unfortunately but I have a pleasure to have surgery on pancreas cancer here. UK NHS said its noopetatable😬. The rooms 10 stars out of 5🙂, super clean, staff constantly checking on you, everything went smooth and pain free(thanks to epidural and painkillers). I have been sent home when I was ready, no complications and, 7 month out and good so far. Highly recommend, plus beautiful town which I was able to see before surgery.

Good doctor, good behavior. Satisfied patient.

I got to see two fabulous doctors, the first in emerg and the second in cardiology (who confirmed the original diagnosis). Both were extremely caring and knowledgeable. I felt in good hands. Minus a half star for the long wait to see the first doctor (but triage ekg was quick so I guess it wasn’t urgent). Minus another half star for the filthy, seatless public toilet for the waiting room but bonus point for the outstanding quality of the doctors.

You doctors who work in the Pitie Salpetriere hospital, bow your heads to the ground and beyond, for all those children's souls, whom you do not stop from their straight and fast path to earth. May all the joys with which you spoil yourselves, turn you into ashes, and let your empty souls shatter like the lives of the innocent, whom you leave daily prey to their suffering, evil and disease, without trying to save them, although their last hope it was with you. And we are not talking about terminal cases, but about people who can be saved easily, if you ONLY tried! World top 10 hospital: an advertisement for nothing!!! You shouldn't even be in the top 3 of a pitiful city, forgotten by the world! Great doctors who don't even see the patient, just sign to be discharged, and hide behind the reception, because you are busy. With what? Did you destroy the next man's life? How many people do you dust a day? Do you have a commission from cemeteries? Change all the staff! You made terrible recruiting mistakes! Give them difficult cases, without them knowing that they are being tested, and see what "doctors" you have! The rest, take their diplomas and useless documents and start sweeping the street, don't let them have the power to turn good people into dust!

I recently was looked after by Department of Thoracic Surgery and they coordinated and led my multidisciplinary operation. I would like to thank all the teams involved in looking after me and providing me with the highest quality of healthcare. I am extremely thankful and humbled by the professionalism and excellent quality of service that you provide to the public day in, day out.

Alert: avoid this hospital for giving birth. During my labor in August, the anaesthetist came very late and failed her job. She did not manage to give me the pain killer Epidural as agreed prenatal, which resulted in an extremely painful delivery. The doctor did not even accomplish the basic task. very disappointed. will not recommend USZ at all.

I am a tourist that presented to the emergency room with stroke symptoms (headache and memory issues). The care was excellent! Every staff member was very caring and knowledgeable! Everyone was very personable. I have worked in Healthcare in the United States for 40 years and feel the care I received far exceeded what I have seen or experienced in the US. Zurich can be proud of their outstanding medical center! A stroke was ruled out and I was diagnosed with amnesia related to a migraine! I highly recommend this medical center for your healthcare needs and appreciate the care they gave me.

Poor management, miscommunication between staffs leading to patient’s EXTREME DISCOMFORT, no empathy whatsoever, PLUS the lack of information given to the patient; having to wait for 2 days still going on with little to no food (to prepare for the surgery which only takes 20 minutes as the doctor had said). The surgery that was planned, gets delayed due to the miscommunication between the staff members. But this was not relayed to the patient and the patient’s family until after waiting for 8 HOURS, keeping the affected ones in the dark. Then promising to do the surgery the next morning but then it gets pushed back to afternoon and then again at around 9 pm. But AGAIN it gets postponed until next day saying the doctor went home, which meant the patient was starving the whole day preparing for the promised surgery which was not done. Even after all this has happened because of their MISCOMMUNICATION and CARELESSNESS, NOT A WORD OF APOLOGY or any better explanation. Sure, it’s a hospital, there could sometimes be many emergency patients at once but they should also have MANAGED properly, they should not have promised something they could not do or they should have made proper plans OR they should have communicated well, at most the staffs should be trained properly on what they should be doing. Save lives but also not try to make any more patients. Hopefully an improvement in the management, the behavior of the staffs towards the patients, and their skills can be seen in the FUTURE if not now because it’s a PURE DISAPPOINTMENT right now.

My dad was supposed to have a surgery on 8 am after the hospital gave an appointment. He wasn’t allowed to eat or drink from midnight til the surgery. But they somehow had a “communication error” saying that the operation room got occupied by another patient after 8 HOURS!! My dad had to wait 8 HOURS in pain without any food or water waiting for the doctor to do the operation in the room. But NOTHING!! It was so irresponsible of them! It felt insulting as if they were looking down on us because we are of different race. I felt so bad for my dad!! Now the operation is gonna take place tomorrow! I had expected better from the hospital!! I wouldn’t even give 1 star if I could but unfortunately I have to, to write this review!!

A mother spent three days begging Help Island psychologists to help her child not commit her seventh suicide. A psychologist and a social worker. The meeting was prepared for three days. Twenty-first century, in the ambulance of the city of Bern, out of 140 thousand Russians and the same number of Russian speakers, but there was no interpreter for the appointment. The elite of the hospital, in the person of a highly paid psychologist and social worker, passed judgement; Listen, ...parents ; the mother should call the police! In truth, they pay 8,000 francs a month out of your taxes to the great healers of the land of Switzerland. There's a Russian saying "don't throw beads in front of pigs". Mother left in silence. The arrogant took it as a victory! A victory over a helpless, disabled woman. Arrogance is formed from the absence of everything else. Education, upbringing, having compassion, morals, responsibility, being helpful...) How does fascism spread? The chief said, you have to smash your forehead, but follow orders! Back in the emergency room, after five hours of being ignored, the mother was brought out a poster, A4 sheet format. It said in large letters, "We won't help you and the three-digit police phone number is 911. The leading psychologists of the hospital and here, showed their professionalism, big letters for a stupid Russian mother. These letters shout: "the doctor said to the morgue, so to the morgue". The mother, of course, was sick, but unlike the friendly staff of the Ostrovny Hospital, she could remember a seven-digit phone number. Where do these mothers get their strength? She brought the baby in. И? Refused!!! This is another story, how she managed to survive, get to the nearest town and finally get help. And what about the friendly staff of the Ostrovny Hospital? They found a clinic where they put a sick, tormented child, called and told them to get rid of him. What does the ambulance care about the clinic? How close, how united is the corporeal spirit, in the pleasure of mocking the Russian, sick mother. Friends, "The future is not for everyone. " Klaus Schwab Unite!

Swedish healthcare in a nutshell. Low quality and racist doctors since free doesnt always mean better. If you dont want to die, travel to a nearby country for 21st century medicine. Also if you read the comments below foreigners all agree. Its only swedes who think their healthcare is amazing. They think that because they compare it to US and feel grateful its ”free”. If you have to wait weeks and months to see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis for even the simplest things; its not worth it and you can die, loose productivity. Its much better if its more expensive and quicker.

European exchange students. Broken finger. We were sent to a private clinic despite having the European Health Card. It seems easier that the pacient goes to a private clinic and pays and eventually and luckily gets their money back from their Social Security than giving them a proper treatment and getting the money from the origin country. Shame

Backward medical system even 100 times lower quality as much as Nepal Especially the old(head?witch?) nurse in emergency reception is killing patients slowly.

I am shocked at how mediocre and overrated this nationally famous clinic is. Even as an international, self-paying client my appointments in late 2022 were continually mixed up and, worse still, the 3 weeks of extensive diagnoses were inconclusive and they recommended cortisone for the pains throughout my body, claiming there was no alternative to this treatment. My pains steadily increased and at one stage I could no longer get out of bed without help. I finally visited a microbiologist in Hamburg who correctly diagnosed the cause, and with a simple change of diet I was pain-free within a week!. I am now completely off cortisone.

The worst childbirth that you could imagine! Unfortunately, we chose this clinic for childbirth. At the 39th week Dra. Laura Muñoz Saá said me, that labor induction was needed. Although we did not agree with this, but we trusted her words that everything will be fine and that it is better for me and child. The doctor assured only about the advantages of induction of labor. However, there was not a word about complications and possible consequences. Although everything was written in the informed consent. After the start of induction, irregular labor began (opening from 2 cm to 10 cm per hour). I screamed from pain and begged for pain relief due to excruciating pain. Everyone just said that I should breathe, and I will never forget the words of the anesthesiologist who came to install epidural anesthesia. He said "all women give birth, what do you mean you can't sit down for 2 minutes?" In those moments, I prayed that it would end soon and barely sat through those 2 minutes of hellish pain. After the examination, the doctor on shift told that the cervix was already fully dilated and the child was in distress. I was told that a caesarean section should be performed immediately. To go through hellish pain so that it ends with an operation is not the worst. The worst thing is when they start making an incision, and you say that you feel pain, just pain, and not the feeling that something is being done. In response from the anesthesiologist, I heard "don't make it up, you can't feel pain." No one but me will understand the torments that I went through and that left a mark on my heart forever. The most beautiful day of my life became one of the worst for me due to excruciating pain and a feeling of helplessness. When you beg for pain relief, which they still think about giving you or not, because they don't believe that you can feel such unbearable pain. The only thing that was at the highest level was the help of the nurses and the matrons with the child. Thank you very much for your work and help!

My parents have been getting treatment at this place since 2018 and since it's doors first openend then, the customer service and quality has gone down by a lot. They are taking on too many people and they are loosing sight of what matters most: the patient and their family. I lost my father recently and I am sure that his doctors at the CUN could have looked after their patient more in detail rather than making us wait for hours sometimes and the most difficult part was for my dad or me to get a hold of his doctors. The ER room service is also basically non existent. I will never use that Clinic again. Great doctors, latest Tecno but not attention to detail and bad administration.

I was lucky enough to be hospitalised here (you know what I mean) : without exception the doctors, nurses and auxiliaries were nothing less than superb. I thank them all!

Private hospital based in Pamplona and Madrid. It is worth making the trip to attend any of its specialties, which are not few. In my case, they have given us endless possibilities. All staff are attentive, they explain each intervention/treatment in detail and work with insurance. Everything is organized and they have professionals for everything. Appointments are usually on time, the waiting time in the room is short. There is a parking lot right in front. We will repeat and I recommend this clinic.

An incredible service, the best hospital I have ever been too. Bedside manner from doctors, nurses, and all staff is fantastic

Not possible to schedule appointment via phone, only email. Very long waiting time, appointments are always late for 30-60mins or longer, and management does not notify about delays, patients time is not respected at all.

**^Racism warning. I met with Dr Raquel Vieira to have my implant taken out as me and my husband wanted to start trying for children. Firstly she wouldn’t let him be in the room even after I insisted. Then during the procedure she proceeded to tell me “COLOURED men like to have many wives” and told me I needed to “really check” to see if he had other wives, and children I didn’t know about. This was extremely shocking to hear, coming from Sweden and the U.K. I felt very uncomfortable as she was stitching me up I was in shock and felt very unsafe around this doctor. I can only imagine how she would treat me if I was darker skinned or god forbid decided to make her my doctor for my pregnancy. Very unprofessional and unpleasant let alone racist and illegal.

The service too bad I’m trying more than 2 months to take appointment to show exams to the dr their phones never answer! They never respect people

Came here for an emergency with my travel insurance during my vacation on a Portuguese public holiday. We were received well and in timely manner.

My husband, Kevin, had spinal surgery on Friday 19th May. The care and skill of the surgeon, Dr. Ricardo Frada and of the team of nurses, auxiliaries and the physio on the ward- fantastic. The hospital is very clean and pleasant and the patients’ rooms have natural light and plenty of space. Even the food was high quality. We would both recommend this hospital very highly for spinal or orthopaedic surgery.

High quality hospital with quick response time and professional staffs

My wife and I have been going to this hospital for a couple of years. We have a family doctor (always late but doctors do have other patients with problems that need intervention, I like to think) speciality doctors for hematology, dermatology, gynecology and urology. They all have a specified amount of time to allot to each patient for consultations so sometimes it seems rushed but they have all been very professional and in almost all cases attentive and caring. The hospital is very busy and i think the receptionists do an excellent job of helping patients.

Mammogram and ultrasound checks everyone's helpful. Friendly and professional felt relaxed with all the helpful doctors .nurses and receptionistist would give them more stars 🌟 then five

Recepcionists who answer the phone are hysterical and rude. The worse!! The lady who answered to me and didn’t want to transfer to her boss or the person I called for, started yelling as crazy to me. Asking me personal information but she denied to give me even her name or transfer the call. I even advise her to take a valium and she hung up on me. Crazy lady

Excellent hospital, very well located and with great access. There is always parking. The level of care is excellent, both from the clinical staff and from the nursing staff and assistants. They usually keep to the schedules for both the exams and the appointments. Very clean and tidy. Very good facilities and with excellent means of diagnosis. I strongly recommend Works for almost all insurance I recommend

My experience was excellent from booking to the end! The staff are super attentive, good professionals, the facilities and equipment are in very good condition. Fast, convenient, in the best way possible! The password machine was broken, but the technician resolved the problem within minutes! It is noted that the management of the unit is carried out by the team that knows what they are doing. Thank you for such a good service!

Long live the privatization (commodification) of health! I had the first-person experience yesterday that you can't be sick on the weekend, or at certain times, because it might not be as profitable for the company. I don't understand where such a large chunk of the state budget for health goes, when a person happens to need medical services at 4:15 on a Saturday afternoon and the hospital is unable, or unwilling, to respond. I had to go to S. João to be seen, because while these leeches absorb taxpayers' money, local public hospitals are left without the means to provide an efficient service for everyone, without exception.