[usr1106]

German "public" healthcare is much more accessible and has much better coverage than its Finnish counterpart.

Despite Finland reapeatedly making headlines (including on HN) about being a Nordic welfare state.

Germans are typically complaining from a high level.

Source: Members of the wider family living in both countries. Some over 80 and needing a lot of healthcare services.

(I hear general practioners can be a problem in poorer areas in the East. My experiences are from a prosperous area in the West.)

[graemep]

> Germans are typically complaining from a high level.

Do Germans share the British tendency to think everything is better in the rest of the world?

As an immigrant (as a child, admittedly) and someone who has lived and worked elsewhere and, more importantly, does not completely share this aspect of the culture, I find British pessimism and self-flagellation really, really annoying.

[carstenhag]

Germans unfortunately like to complain a lot. Many things are better elsewhere, is claimed. Except for many other countries nearby. And the weirdos from UK leaving EU. And the weirdos from US with Trump. And we have it so bad, so bad. Sometimes I hate my fellow Germans.

[graemep]

Nice to know its not just us!

[oarfish]

A finnish colleague once told me that the Finns just don't go to the doctor unless something falls off. Any accuracy to that?

[usr1106]

Yes, especially for Finnish men in the countryside that's a sterotype with quite some truth behind it.

Edit: And that results in a dangerous combination: First waiting too long and then getting the answser "no free appointments". And if you insist the next one is in 3 or 6 months. Many Finns do not insist.