Svetlana Pushkareva Hutfles, a native of Togliatti, Russia, made a striking statement during a panel discussion on health care Friday in Lawrence.

She asked the audience: “How many of you believe you live in the best country in the world?”

At least 50 percent of the 30 audience members raised their hands.

Svetlana Pushkareva Hutfles

She isn’t so sure, and it’s because of the country’s health care system.

“I am petrified — PETRIFIED — to think of what is going to happen to my family if we ever get sick. I am 33 years old and I still don’t have a child, and part of the reason why is because I have no idea how I am going to pay for it. What am I going to do when that child gets sick? What am I going to do if my parents get sick while they visit?”

In Russia, she said, all medical expenses are covered from the time a woman is five months pregnant until the child turns 1. She also said a woman is allowed to stay with a child until age 3 without losing her job.

Pushkareva Hutfles said every person in Russia has access to medical care regardless of whether they are employed or not.

She said it took her husband years to convince her to move to America, where everyone is supposed to have equal rights. But, she said, that is not true when it comes to health care.

“Your rights are being violated,” she said.

The comment received applause.

However, an American nursing student paints a different picture of Russia’s health care system. Her story was published in “Carolna Nursing News.”