When Simran Kaul Arora moved to Germany, she expected one thing to be straightforward – healthcare.Like many people, she had always heard that Germany’s public systems were among the best in the world. So when her husband developed an eye infection, she assumed they’d visit a doctor, get it treated and be back home.That isn’t how it played out.In a video that’s now doing the rounds on Instagram, Simran shared how what looked like a routine medical issue turned into days of running around, long waits and plenty of frustration.”I always thought Germany’s healthcare system would be really efficient,” she says in the video. “But what happened recently was completely different from what I had imagined.”According to Simran, everything started when her husband, Shivam, developed an eye infection.The couple first headed to an emergency facility, hoping to get him examined quickly. Instead, they were told to visit another medical centre, nearly an hour away from where they lived.That still didn’t solve the problem.She said they eventually managed to get an appointment with a doctor – but only after waiting for almost a week. Even on the day of the appointment, they ended up sitting in the waiting room for a long time before they were finally called in.For Simran, that was the most surprising part of the experience.She said she hadn’t expected getting an appointment to be this difficult, especially in a country where residents pay mandatory health insurance and taxes.”It was definitely not what I expected before moving to Germany,” she said.Her video quickly struck a chord online.The comments section was soon filled with people sharing stories that ranged from “I’ve been through the same thing” to “My experience was completely different.”One user wrote that situations like this are exactly when they miss India’s healthcare system.Another said they had also developed an eye infection in Germany but were able to see a doctor within 30 minutes after calling a clinic and explaining that it was urgent.”I think I was just lucky,” the person wrote.Others felt the discussion highlighted something many people don’t realise until they move abroad that seeing a doctor in India is often much quicker than in many European countries.”People complain about healthcare in India all the time,” one comment read. “But at least you can usually find a doctor when you need one.” Some users also shared practical advice for newcomers.A few suggested looking for clinics that offer Akutsprechstunde, or walk-in hours for urgent cases, saying they can be a better option than waiting for a regular appointment. Others pointed out that experiences vary widely depending on the city and the clinic, with some places offering appointments much faster than others.Several Indians living overseas also admitted they make it a habit to carry basic medicines from India because getting medical consultations abroad isn’t always as quick as they had expected.Simran’s experience has clearly opened up a conversation that goes beyond one doctor’s appointment.For many people, Germany still has one of the world’s strongest healthcare systems. But as several residents pointed out, good healthcare doesn’t always mean immediate access to a doctor.And that’s what seemed to resonate most with viewers.It wasn’t a story about whether one country’s healthcare is better than another. It was simply a reminder that living abroad often comes with surprises that glossy social media posts rarely show. Sometimes, those surprises only become obvious when you’re sick and all you want is to see a doctor.
