Sacred Haven of Debauchery

If it makes you feel better, the situation is similar, if not worse, in the nominally free healthcare system in the CIS countries. I remember a great story about a friend who, in Moscow, had 3-4 teeth treated under the mandatory health insurance system, including one that was causing severe pain. He waited a month on painkillers, and when he finally came in, he was sent away for some made-up reason. He had to make a scene and reschedule to have at least the most painful tooth treated, and then wait another month to have the rest treated.