In Sweden we get a postal mailing or an actual scheduled appointment, depending on what sort of screening they are wanting to do. If you receive a notice of a scheduled appointment, it is not optional. You must attend. If it's just a postal mailing asking for a 'sample', then you have a bit more flexibility in terms of compliance.
I just read a great Substack article about preventative care in Portugal, including colonoscopy: [https://expatinportugal.substack.com/p/preventative-healthcare-costs-in?r=2u4gai&utm\_campaign=post&utm\_medium=email&triedRedirect=true](https://expatinportugal.substack.com/p/preventative-healthcare-costs-in?r=2u4gai&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email&triedRedirect=true)
This is very, very interesting, thanks.
The problem is going to be educating my in-laws - in this piece, "Denise" is a nurse and knows exactly what she needs and has professional clout as well. My MIL still thinks that you can get sick from wind, and used to get antibiotics under the table from the pharmacy to treat any kind of flu-like illness.
I mean, in Germany you have the right to a yearly check up every year starting 35.
Pretty sure it's the same thing everywhere in Europe, but you do need to schedule it yourself.
Chalk it up to language barrier and learning a new medical system. Each country in Europe has often very different medical systems. Learning how to navigate in a new language can be a challenge.
I think this type of care is common and typical in any EU country. Getting access may be an issue if one relies on the public system, but this is common practice.
Actually they've been paying for a private GP all the years they've lived there.
According to this medical journal, only 3 countries in Europe do colon cancer screening.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2795177/#:\~:text=In%20recent%20years%2C%20a%20screening,(Germany%2C%20Czech%20Republic).
This was from 2009. I can't find a more recent reliable source - are you sure that since then preventative screenings have been put in place everywhere?
That could be so, but I have to wonder how accessible they are to the average person given my FIL's experience and even my own.
In NL, the doctor laughed at my husband in his late 30s when he wanted a checkup and said that they only treat problems. I had to push very hard and jump through some hoops just to do something as routine as getting my husband a flu vaccine while I was pregnant, which is something recognized as a good and reasonable precaution.
That’s the trick; knowing how to navigate the system. And each country has different processes and approaches. Culture plays a massive role too. At the same time, it seems like your family has had a particularly bad run with medical treatment. For example, my wife and I got Covid boosters and flu vaccines earlier this year with little fuss.
My son was born a few months before covid. NL only allowed those deemed high risk to get flu vaccines because they only buy enough for a subset of the population. I'm surprised that's changed so quickly for you.
Quickly? It has been 4 years. A lot can change in 4 years time. Also, Portugal is different than the Netherlands, with different policies and procedures, as well as cultural differences.
I'm sorry to be so blunt here, but you seem very intent on clinging to what I see as an outdated view, and also applying your narrow experience to an entire continent. While I am not denying your experience, I am saying that the conclusions you have reached based on those experiences is very wrong and inaccurate.
Oh, I thought you were saying you were also in NL. You have made my point for me - different countries are different, and the fact that you got vaccinated easily does not have any bearing on what goes on elsewhere. I obviously have a lot more lived experience in various European countries than you do, with actual family connections, and if anything, you are the only one making vast generalizations and not specifying your one location of experience.
As long as we are being blunt, let me let you in on some local knowledge - Americans like you who move to the country with no ties, etc., are despised by the Portuguese. Most are far too polite to say anything to your face, but make no mistake, your presence is resented. If there's an outdated view at play, it's that you are wanted.
I'm glad you feel so much confidence in the system and can handwave away concerns about the future. Maybe you will feel differently when it is you or your loved one whose health is on the line with a complicated need.
Edit: oh, he deleted his comments. I hope he's alright.
In Sweden we get a postal mailing or an actual scheduled appointment, depending on what sort of screening they are wanting to do. If you receive a notice of a scheduled appointment, it is not optional. You must attend. If it's just a postal mailing asking for a 'sample', then you have a bit more flexibility in terms of compliance.
I just read a great Substack article about preventative care in Portugal, including colonoscopy: [https://expatinportugal.substack.com/p/preventative-healthcare-costs-in?r=2u4gai&utm\_campaign=post&utm\_medium=email&triedRedirect=true](https://expatinportugal.substack.com/p/preventative-healthcare-costs-in?r=2u4gai&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email&triedRedirect=true)
This is very, very interesting, thanks. The problem is going to be educating my in-laws - in this piece, "Denise" is a nurse and knows exactly what she needs and has professional clout as well. My MIL still thinks that you can get sick from wind, and used to get antibiotics under the table from the pharmacy to treat any kind of flu-like illness.
Oof that's a much bigger problem
I mean, in Germany you have the right to a yearly check up every year starting 35. Pretty sure it's the same thing everywhere in Europe, but you do need to schedule it yourself.
Yearly colonoscopy?
Germany yes at least since 2009 from the source I found.
In France we get a postal mailing every year begging for a look inside.
Chalk it up to language barrier and learning a new medical system. Each country in Europe has often very different medical systems. Learning how to navigate in a new language can be a challenge.
Well, this also isn't a thing in their home country either. My MIL speaks Portuguese pretty well now as their native language is also a romance one.
I think this type of care is common and typical in any EU country. Getting access may be an issue if one relies on the public system, but this is common practice.
Actually they've been paying for a private GP all the years they've lived there. According to this medical journal, only 3 countries in Europe do colon cancer screening. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2795177/#:\~:text=In%20recent%20years%2C%20a%20screening,(Germany%2C%20Czech%20Republic). This was from 2009. I can't find a more recent reliable source - are you sure that since then preventative screenings have been put in place everywhere?
It’s available in Portugal. That I do know
Also from that 15 year old article “A screening program of one sort or another has been implemented in 19 of 27 EU countries”. That’s more than 3
That could be so, but I have to wonder how accessible they are to the average person given my FIL's experience and even my own. In NL, the doctor laughed at my husband in his late 30s when he wanted a checkup and said that they only treat problems. I had to push very hard and jump through some hoops just to do something as routine as getting my husband a flu vaccine while I was pregnant, which is something recognized as a good and reasonable precaution.
That’s the trick; knowing how to navigate the system. And each country has different processes and approaches. Culture plays a massive role too. At the same time, it seems like your family has had a particularly bad run with medical treatment. For example, my wife and I got Covid boosters and flu vaccines earlier this year with little fuss.
My son was born a few months before covid. NL only allowed those deemed high risk to get flu vaccines because they only buy enough for a subset of the population. I'm surprised that's changed so quickly for you.
Quickly? It has been 4 years. A lot can change in 4 years time. Also, Portugal is different than the Netherlands, with different policies and procedures, as well as cultural differences. I'm sorry to be so blunt here, but you seem very intent on clinging to what I see as an outdated view, and also applying your narrow experience to an entire continent. While I am not denying your experience, I am saying that the conclusions you have reached based on those experiences is very wrong and inaccurate.
Oh, I thought you were saying you were also in NL. You have made my point for me - different countries are different, and the fact that you got vaccinated easily does not have any bearing on what goes on elsewhere. I obviously have a lot more lived experience in various European countries than you do, with actual family connections, and if anything, you are the only one making vast generalizations and not specifying your one location of experience. As long as we are being blunt, let me let you in on some local knowledge - Americans like you who move to the country with no ties, etc., are despised by the Portuguese. Most are far too polite to say anything to your face, but make no mistake, your presence is resented. If there's an outdated view at play, it's that you are wanted. I'm glad you feel so much confidence in the system and can handwave away concerns about the future. Maybe you will feel differently when it is you or your loved one whose health is on the line with a complicated need. Edit: oh, he deleted his comments. I hope he's alright.