Cyprus, revered by the world as the “Playground of the Gods,” is undeniably beautiful. Situated in the midst of three continents, Cyprus has an inescapable charm from its humble waves and unbroken sunshine to its rich and diverse cultural environment. Knowing this, I initially chose to study abroad in Cyprus to broaden and mature my understanding of the world. As an aspiring health care professional, I thought this would entail developing a deeper appreciation of diverse cultures; however, I was shocked to see what this trip had in store for me.
By this, I mean that I “literally” experienced anaphylactic shock after I ate gelato that was cross contaminated with tree nuts, to which I was allergic. This required me to go to the emergency room at 12 AM. Thankfully, I was surrounded by a group of students, that called Jodi (my program advisor) as soon as I was presenting the signs of anaphylactic shock. Even though it was a daunting experience, it gave me profound insight into the Cyprian healthcare system. My biggest take away was the realization of the extreme extent to which culture, infrastructure, and socioeconomic factors play a role in accessing healthcare.
As an EMT, the first difference in the health care system I noticed was the lack of an emergency transport system. To get to the Mediterranean Hospital of Cyprus, we had to order a taxi and wait for it to arrive. This arrangement was further complicated by the interwoven nature of Cyprus roads, which made it difficult for the driver to find the hotel and delayed care.
I was reminded of the lack of an emergency transport system when we were in the Lefkara village in the Troodos mountains. While its undisturbed nature gave the village a certain charm, it forced me to wonder about the accessibility of healthcare in the mountains. In extremely time-sensitive situations, like strokes, every second counts so a longer transport time could be life or limb-threatening.
Another difference I noticed was the itemization of the cost of the care given. This established a greater degree of transparency and by relation trust in the healthcare system. In comparison, in America, it is extremely difficult to get an itemized list of costs which can lead to a state of confusion and distrust. I was also surprised to see that the bill was only 90€ because, in America, a similar treatment could have cost me thousands without insurance.
The final difference I noticed was in the scale of the emergency department. My local hospital has more than 50 different units and half a dozen different specialized zones. While I knew that the population of Cyprus was smaller, I was surprised to see that the emergency department was just one big room with “rooms” formed by curtains. The nurses and doctors, both of whom dressed in the same color scrubs, focused their efforts on providing the most efficient care to move patients as quickly as possible.
In the end, even though I would never want to experience a healthcare emergency in a foreign country again, I am grateful to have recovered completely and to have learned more about the Cyprus healthcare system. If anything, this experience reinforced my decision to be a doctor and improve access to equitable care. This also motivated me to continue pursuing my degree in bioengineering because I realized that technology can be used to bridge the gaps in care across the world.