There was a thread about Chernobyl a while back on reddit, and many survivors were commented on it (a fascinating thread). One remarked that while root canals were free, you had to pay for the anesthetic. One also had to pay bribes to the hospital staff to get things done.
> had to pay bribes to the hospital staff to get things done
This is still common. Patients are routinely ignored (and if elderly often abused) unless throwing bribes around. Countless cases of deceased friends and relatives in the media.
Absolutely no one in the Eastern block would dream to recommend state-run healthcare. It’s a deeply corrupted mafia organization.
