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Student Life

Global Snapshots: Brazil - a rich country full of poor people

BMJ 2003; 326 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0305160a (Published 01 May 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;326:0305160a
  1. Lalla McCormack, medical student intercalating in international health1
  1. 1University College London

It's Carnival time in Brazil; a time of year when practical realities such as the country's health policies take a backseat to the sun, samba, and sensationalism of the Mardi Gras festival. The thousands of tourists descending on the country, flocking to the tourist capital, Rio de Janeiro, will embrace the intoxicating hedonism of the spectacle. The few who actually encounter the Brazilian health service will probably do so as a result of excess Caçhaca--an unbeleivably potent rum.

Unfortunately, postcards depicting the Cidade Maravilhosa of Rio are unrecognisable to most of the population. In stark contrast to its opulent carnival, …

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