No Appointments For A Week: Indian Woman Flags New Zealand Healthcare Struggle
Strap: She said the earliest appointment was a week away, while an overcrowded after-hours clinic had stopped accepting patients.
New Delhi: An Indian woman living in New Zealand has sparked a discussion on healthcare access after sharing her experience of struggling to get a timely doctor's appointment for her sick child.
In a video shared on Instagram, the woman, identified as Akriti Jaiswal Srivastava, said her child Kevith had been suffering from a persistent cough for around 10 days. Concerned that the cough was not improving, she contacted her local medical centre hoping to get him examined.
However, she said she was told that there were no appointments available for a week. Although she called on a Thursday, the earliest appointment she could secure was for the following Wednesday.
“Today is Thursday, and the appointment they gave me is for next Wednesday,” she said, explaining that she had initially decided to wait and see whether her son's cough would improve on its own.
She said she then considered visiting an after-hours clinic, where walk-in patients are generally seen. However, she found the facility overcrowded and said staff had stopped accepting additional patients.
“Even the after-hours clinic is so full that they've refused to take any more patients,” she said, describing the situation as particularly difficult for a parent whose child is unwell.
The woman said the experience made her reflect on the accessibility of healthcare in India, where patients can often visit private hospitals and clinics and consult doctors without having to wait several days for an appointment.
“Sometimes you truly realise… India’s healthcare is on another level,” she said, adding that while New Zealand is a developed country, accessing medical care, particularly for children, can be challenging.
“Adults can still manage somehow, but for children, managing these things becomes very necessary,” she said, advising Indians moving to New Zealand with children to be prepared for differences in the healthcare system.
She also said she wished she had carried some medicines from India, though such medicines should only be used in accordance with medical advice and local regulations.
Social Media Reactions
Her comments triggered a mixed response on social media. Some users agreed with her concerns, while others said New Zealand's public healthcare system prioritises urgent cases and advised people to follow the appropriate medical channels.
One user said an emergency involving a seriously ill child would typically be directed to the appropriate service. Another shared an experience of receiving treatment through New Zealand's emergency system after a family member developed an infected thumb.
Other commenters pointed out that private healthcare options are also available in New Zealand and argued that comparing the country's public system with India's private healthcare sector was not an equivalent comparison.
The discussion highlights the different expectations people may have about healthcare after moving between countries, particularly when seeking treatment for children. While the woman's experience was based on her individual circumstances, her account has prompted debate among Indian expatriates about waiting times, emergency care and access to doctors in New Zealand.
