So You Want to Go Swimming!

As physicians, we generally encourage our patients to participate in regular physical activity.  But, when does such activity become unhealthy for both body and soul?

We often take for granted the transparency of life in America.  While this is true, we do have corruption, but just better at hiding it.  Adapting to life in a foreign country provides many interesting situations to learn about the true nature and thought process of the nationals with whom we live and work.

One such situation arose when my assistant decided to find a place to exercise and swim.  During the Soviet times many sports halls were constructed with swimming pools.  Like many other things during that era admittance to these halls was free.  Now, with independence, there is a fee, nothing is free.

In the past, as well as now, in order to use the pool a person needed to provide a “Spravka” or certificate of health.  Obtaining this certificate, required a visit to the local polyclinic where you are registered to live.  You were examined by a dermatologist, gynecologist and an internist.  You stood in line for an hour typically for each of the doctors.  When you were finally seen, you were not examined, just asked to pay a small amount and the doctor would sign and stamp your spravka. 

This was very frustrating because you wasted a day of work or more for a piece of paper that really does not mean anything.

To make matters worse, if you are registered to live in another city, you must obtain a medical record book before obtaining the spravka.  This involves much the same process, but you must see 10 or 11 subspecialists.  Then and only then you return to the gynecologist and dermatologist you just saw to obtain permission to go swimming.  You now take your spravka and visit the internist who can then conclude whether you are healthy or not to go swimming.

Now you could avoid this process by paying an “expediting fee.”  You can easily see how quickly corruption can take a foothold.

Imagine how you would feel if you decide to go through the process legally, then go to the pool and realize the majority of people where not examined and just paid for the spravka to be signed.  Maybe it is healthier not to go swimming!