South African vs. Canadian Doctors: The Culture Shock is REAL

Howzit everyone! Welcome back to another walk and talk in beautiful West Vancouver. 🇨🇦 Today, I’m tackling a topic that every South African expat talks about eventually: The Medical System.

Back in South Africa, going to see our family doctor (Dr. Sonia!) felt like visiting a friend. You had time to chat, she asked about the kids, and you left feeling truly "cared for.".

In Canada? It’s a different story.

I recently had a health scare with a bump on my arm that wouldn't heal. The process opened my eyes to the "10-minute slot" culture here. From phone appointments to the "one issue per visit" rule, I’m breaking down my honest experience navigating the system.

Is it efficient? Yes. Does it feel human? Not really.

In this video: 🇿🇦 The "Family" feel of SA Private Doctors 🇨🇦 The "Business" feel of Canadian Clinics ⏱️ The 10-minute appointment rule & "One issue only" 🏥 My experience with a Dermatologist referral (Waiting & Biopsies)

Disclaimer: I know I was privileged to have private care in SA, and I know Canada has a doctor shortage, but the difference in care is still shocking.

What has your experience been? Did you find a good family doctor, or are you stuck in the walk-in clinic cycle? Let me know in the comments!

Don't forget to Like & Subscribe to join the journey!

#SouthAfricanInCanada #CanadianHealthcare #ExpatLife #WestVancouver #HowzitCanada #FamilyDoctor

Timestamps (Chapter Markers)
00:00 - Intro: A break in the rain in West Van
00:26 - How it worked in South Africa (The Dr. Sonia difference)
01:20 - The Canadian Reality: Cold & Business-like
01:43 - My medical issue (The bump on my arm)
01:50 - The Process: Phone calls vs. In-Person visits
02:37 - The "10-Minute Slot" System
03:42 - The Dermatologist Referral & The Wait
04:30 - The Dermatologist Experience (Upsells & Speed)
05:45 - Feeling like a number, not a human
06:44 - Acknowledging Privilege: SA Private vs. Canada Public
07:13 - The "One Issue Per Visit" Rule
07:40 - Final Thoughts: Efficiency vs. Care

Facebook:   / moving2vancouver  
Instagram:   / south_african_shop  
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/callie9271/ (I Think)
Tik Tok:   / the.south.african.shop  
Shopify: https://thesouthafricanshop.ca/

👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇
We are a South African 🇿🇦 family that moved from Johannesburg to Vancouver in 2021.
Please subscribe to our channel and follow our experiences and learn with us about our new home - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦.

You can also follow us on Facebook and join us for Live videos about places we visit and perceptions of our new home.
👍   / vangraans  

Check out our other videos about various topics:
💲 Cost of living in Vancouver
🗽 Immigration and Emigrating
🏠 Housing & Renting
🏧 Banking
🚗 ⛴ 🚌 🚎 🚲 Transport
💊 🩺 💉 Health
🌄 📸 Natural beauty
🧗 🚣‍♀️ 🚴‍♀️ Outdoor lifestyle
🚦 🚧 🚙 Driver's Licences
... and much more!

DISCLAIMER: 📌
Any information provided on this Youtube Channel is of a general nature and is for educational/informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice and you are not guaranteed the same outcome. Should you decide to act upon any information on this channel, please proceed with caution ⚠️.

Information is gathered and shared from personal experience and reputable sources, however, this channel is not responsible for errors or omissions in reporting or explanations. Viewers are advised to seek specific legal advice by contacting Immigration Lawyers that are active members of a Law Society in Canada or Immigration Consultants registered with ICCRC. If you want to make sure that you are up to date with the latest changes, please visit the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada website at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-... 🇨🇦