Reading Read the text: Medicine in Kazakhstan

It is almost impossible to imagine the modern world without medicine.

The word medicine is derived from Latin and means ‘the art of healing’. Being an ancient science, medicine has always helped to cure people from dangerous diseases. The main aim of medicine is not only to treat the illness, but also to diagnose and try to prevent it.

Contemporary medicine is so advanced that doctors can foresee the health problems of a baby yet in the womb. It became possible thanks to modern technology. The development of medicine started at ancient times, when animal parts, minerals and plants were used to cure people. It was the time of ‘herbal medicine’. Some people still follow this type of treatment and find it effective.

Middle Ages have introduced small hospitals attached to cathedrals or monasteries.

Modern medicine has brought various vaccines and antibiotics. There are also many branches and highly-qualified health professionals in modern medicine. If someone is allergic to some products or plants, he or she can see an allergist. If someone suffers from poor eyesight, he or she can address the ophthalmologist. If the problem is connected with teeth, people go to the dentist.

Nowadays, our country offers two kinds of medical service. There are state institutions which treat the local residents free of charge, and private clinics, where all services are paid and quite expensive.

Speaking of my family, we usually try to go to a state clinic if someone gets ill but it’s not always easy. You need to schedule an appointment in advance and be a resident of a region where you want to be treated.

Read the text again and say if these facts are true or false

True or false

1. It is almost impossible to imagine the modern world with medicine ()

2. The word medicine is derived from Latin and means ‘the art of healing ()

3. Being an ancient science, medicine hasn’t always helped to cure people from dangerous diseases. ()

4. The main aim of medicine is only to treat the illness. ()

5. Contemporary medicine is so advanced that doctors can foresee the health problems of a baby yet in the womb. ( )

6. The development of medicine started at ancient times, when animal parts, minerals and plants were used to cure people. ()

7. Middle Ages have introduced big hospitals attached to cathedrals or monasteries. ()

8. There are not so many branches and highly-qualified health professionals in modern medicine.()

9. Nowadays, our country offers one kind of medical service. ()

10. You need to schedule an appointment in advance and be a resident of a region where you want to be treated. ()

Questions

1.From what language the word medicine is derived from?

2.What is the main aim of medicine?

3. Can contemporary medicine foresee the health problems ?

4. How did middle ages introduce hospitals?

5. What will you do if you are allergic to some products or plants?

Answers:

1. The word medicine is derived from Latin and means ‘the art of healing’.

2.The main aim of medicine is not only to treat the illness, but also to diagnose and try to prevent it.

3. Contemporary medicine is so advanced that doctors can foresee the health problems of a baby yet in the womb

4. You can see an allergist.

Reading

Medical service in the USA

In the USA there are three levels of organization of medical service: the private doctor, the medical institution or hospital and the United State Public Health Service.

The average American has a doctor of his own, whom he calls his "family doctor". This doctor either has his own private office or works with several other doctors (the so-called "group practice"). This doctor gives the patient regular examinations, vaccinations and medical advice. This doctor generally receives pay directly from the patient.

But many Americans whose income is low have no family doctor. For instance, the majority of the Negroes living in the central part of Baltimore come directly to the hospital for all their medical needs. Here they are cared for in clinics by interns, residents and the doctors who work there.

Each hospital has an "Emergency Room" which serves cases that need immediate attention. The broader questions of medicine such as vaccination of school children and studies of epidemics come under the control of the Public Health Service.

The great cost of medical care in the country and a great number of people who cannot pay for it have led to the development of two new programmes by the Federal Government—Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare provides free medical care for all the Americans over 65. Medicaid provides free medical care for all those whose income is below a certain level and who are not able to pay for medioul aid.

But during the coming years the decision has been taken to decrease the allocations on Medicare and Medicaid for 2 billion dollars. Within 1970— 1980 the cost of medical service of hospitalized patient has increased 3,5 times. In 1950 the cost of one hospital day was 15 dollars, and in 1980 it increased up to 240 dollars. The main scientific problems facing American medicine are the same as those facing Soviet medicine — heart diseases and cancer. Great effort is being taken to determine the causes of these diseases and their successful cure.

Express the following definitions in one word:

1. a physician who treats the diseases of the nervous system; 2. a specialist who treats the diseases of the inner organs; 3. a medical adviser who makes X- ray examinations and describes X-ray films; 4. a doctor who treats our teeth; 5. a doctor who treats mental disturbances; 6. а medical specialist who works in the field of infectious diseases; 7. a physician who treats cardiac diseases; 8. a surgeon who operates on the heart; 9. a scientist who works in the field of physiology; 10. a researcher who investigates the life of microorganisms

 

Combine the pairs of sentences choosing the necessary conjunctions. Translate the sentences:

1. You may go to the polyclinic. You need medical advice, (provided, though) 2. In the USA most Negroes are the poor. Their income is very low. (after, because) 3. The patient must be admitted to the emergency room. He needs immediate surgical operation, (if, after) 4. Many diseases are cured successfully. The medicine has achieved great progress, (since, before) 5. In the USA Negroes have no family doctors. Private medical service is very expensive, (until, as)

Speaking

Add the sports below to the correct category for you. Then compare your answers with a partner and use a dictionary to add more sports to each category.

aerobics snowboarding surfing boxing golf horse-riding baseball scuba diving

bowling hockey basketball skateboarding mountain biking

Writing

The Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the largest and fastest growing post-Soviet economies in Central Asia. Despite recent improvements in health care in response to Kazakhstan 2030 and other state-mandated policy reforms, Kazakhstan still lags behind other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States of the European Region on key indicators of health and economic development. What would we do to improve this situation?

Tasks for self-study