HSE do something that makes sense for once!

ceegee

In a unprecedented show of common sense, the hse have decided to move fertility treatments into the high tech drug scheme to avoid paying a markup on them. Amazed this wasn't done years ago to be honest.

AmcD

That's a shame. I thought you were going to say that the HSE had done something useful-like taking oral nutritional supplements off the GMS. They shouldn't be freely available. The elderly just hoard ensures and young addicts just sell them. Putting them on a separate scheme, like the allowance for gluten free food, would be much more efficient.
But at least the HSE are starting to rationalise their huge drug budget

ceegee

Well they're no longer allowing repeat scripts for them as of march 1st, as well as encouraging doctors to give a shorter supply the first time to check patient palatability, reducing the amount wasted. At the moment theres more items being claimed for than are being bought from wholesalers.

I dont think a new scheme is the answer, it would just give the HSE more paperwork and greater reason to justify their clerical wage bill

CathyMoran

AmcD wrote: »

That's a shame. I thought you were going to say that the HSE had done something useful-like taking oral nutritional supplements off the GMS. They shouldn't be freely available. The elderly just hoard ensures and young addicts just sell them. Putting them on a separate scheme, like the allowance for gluten free food, would be much more efficient.
But at least the HSE are starting to rationalise their huge drug budget

I would disagree on taking the supplements off the GMS - I had to take them for a while when initially ill with oesophageal cancer, it was hard enough to swallow water at the time - they kept me alive, they were not a food so to speak. Oh, was only 32 at the time. You can cut gluten from your diet, but you need food to live.

Fertility drugs should be on the high tech drugs sheme though, I agree - had to take another medicine from that scheme, was very greatful for it.

AmcD

Don't get me wrong. I am all for oral nutritional supplements where they are needed- dysphagia in oesophageal cancer would be a good example. I just feel they are over-prescribed and not monitored enough. If you are up to eating, then a healthy balanced diet is much more effective and palatable.

CathyMoran

Do you not think though that a lot of things are overprescribed? Antibiotics/antinausea tablets to name but two... there are some things that people obviously need, diabetic meds for one but sometimes you just need time to get over things...

I am shocked that the fertility drugs were not on the other scheme in the first place.

DrIndy

I think PPI or antacid medication like losec is overprescribed.

CathyMoran

I agree and their use hides other more serious problems...I was on them for 18 months following my oesophagectomy and no longer need them.

AmcD

Antibiotics and PPIs are definitely overprescribed. I spend a good portion of each day explaining my rationale for not prescribing antibiotics. Sometimes it would be easier just to give out antibiotics for viral infections just to avoid the hassle. But that just reinforces parent's expectations of getting an antibiotic every time their child gets a snotty green nose. Bad medicine.

There is also a lot of heartbreak involved in getting people to consider life without their high dose zoton. Sometimes I can negotiate getting them down to the maintenance dose, or even get them to consider trying a generic brand. But again, it is far less effort not to fight the zoton.

I won't give up.

Sloop John B

The reason why fertility drugs were not on the High Tech scheme in the first place is because a pharmacy in a certain maternity hopsital could only survive with the fees it got from these drugs on the DPS scheme.

It can be strange what influences decision makers.


SJB

angeldelight

I definitely agree that it's a good thing putting the fertility drugs on the HT scheme but I don't think it's fair that Pregnyl was included - it only costs in the region of 20/30 euro for a course of treatment. Ok it's most commonly prescribed in combination with others but I have seen it used on its own and now it costs 100 euro!