High Tech Drugs Scheme

Gael23

Its looking like I'm going on a very expensive high-tech medication in the near future. Im wondering how this works in terms of me getting the Drug each month? This is being initiated by a consultant but from then on do I just get a repeat script from my GP?
Also from research I've done the €2.5o charge doesn't seem to apply if I understand correctly?

palmcut

Gael23 wrote: »

Its looking like I'm going on a very expensive high-tech medication in the near future. Im wondering how this works in terms of me getting the Drug each month? This is being initiated by a consultant but from then on do I just get a repeat script from my GP?
Also from research I've done the €2.5o charge doesn't seem to apply if I understand correctly?

The High tech script has to be initiated by a consultant.Your GP may subsequently issue repeats although some GPs will not.The consultant has to send a copy of the original script to the HSE and the pharmacy has to send a copy of the script to the HSE.The pharmacy will need a new script every 6 months.If you currently have a medical card then you will not be required to pay the 2.50 co-payment.If you are a private patient you should get a DPS card ASAP. A private patient with a DPS card will pay 144 euros for the high tech medicine.

echo beach

You will be asked to nominate a pharmacy to supply the medicine and will have to get it in that pharmacy every month. You can change pharmacies but can't just go to any pharmacy each month as you can for other medicines.
Depending on what the medicine is, the pharmacy may not keep it in stock and you will have to order it a few days in advance and think ahead so that you don't run out over bank holiday weekends, etc as it may not be possible to get a supply quickly.
Good luck with your treatment. These medicines are very expensive but they do have the potential to completely change a life.

Gael23

I hadn't realised how expensive they were until I started researching. We're looking at €8-10k a year. But I'm in a position that nothing else is working and I can't have one of the treatments available due to an unrelated condition so I'm backed into a corner.
I do have a medical card but I see the consultant privately so do I need to get his prescription put on the GMS form as I would normally do?

palmcut

Gael23 wrote: »

I hadn't realised how expensive they were until I started researching. We're looking at €8-10k a year. But I'm in a position that nothing else is working and I can't have one of the treatments available due to an unrelated condition so I'm backed into a corner.
I do have a medical card but I see the consultant privately so do I need to get his prescription put on the GMS form as I would normally do?

No, you do not need to have the prescription written on a GMS form.Bring the consultant's prescription into your pharmacy.As already mentioned bring in the script early. Your high tech medicine may not be in stock and may have to be procured. Normally this will take one day; but if you come in late on a Friday your high tech medication may not be available until the following Tuesday.

huskerdu

I am on a high tech prescription and I would recommend thinking through what pharmacy you use if you live somewhere with a choice. palmcut is right that pharmacies only order in high tech drugs for specific patients.

I use a local branch of a chain with a large turnover and long opening hours. They are very good for pre-ordering my prescription so I don't have to ask for it to be ordered every month. It is always in stock when I go in which is handy.

palmcut

huskerdu wrote: »

I am on a high tech prescription and I would recommend thinking through what pharmacy you use if you live somewhere with a choice. palmcut is right that pharmacies only order in high tech drugs for specific patients.

I use a local branch of a chain with a large turnover and long opening hours. They are very good for pre-ordering my prescription so I don't have to ask for it to be ordered every month. It is always in stock when I go in which is handy.

Once your medication is regular, any pharmacy will stock your High Tech medicine.

Gael23

I have previously dealt with a pharmacy that frequently had items out of stock, only went there because I found the pharmacist good. From talking to my Dermatologist, the amount of injections will fall over time but I'm not really sure yet.
I spoke to my GP today, I just wanted to see what he thought. I knew he wasn't going to tell me do it or don't but he did say that he's seen people tolerate these drugs relatively well and without many problems.

locum-motion

Gael23 wrote: »

I have previously dealt with a pharmacy that frequently had items out of stock...

EVERY pharmacy frequently has items out of stock.

Whether or not an item is out of stock is not something that ANY community pharmacy has any control over.

All community pharmacies, whether single independents, small chains or large multinationals use the same suppliers. There are TWO so-called 'full-line' pharmaceutical wholesalers in Ireland (United Drug & Uniphar). They're the ones that carry the vast majority of drugs, regardless of manufacturer, and each pharmacy will probably deal with one of them for most of their day-to-day purchasing. They'll then go to the other one to try and get things that are out of stock with their first choice wholesaler (if you're lucky, you might just get in before everybody else and get some of the stock they have before they too run out. But they will run out too.)

Then there are some rarely-prescribed or specialised items that are best purchased direct from the manufacturers.

Finally, there are some things (and this includes quite a few of the meds that are included in the High Tech scheme) for which the manufacturers own rules state they cannot be purchased through the wholesalers, and they are marketed 'Direct-To-Pharmacy'. *

My point is this: Do not fall into the trap of thinking that a branch of a big multinational is less prone to stock shortages than an independent. They're not. If your medication is short, then it's short for everyone.






*: It is these 'Direct-To-Pharmacy' medications to which my colleague Palmcut refers.
I can place a wholesaler order for an ordinary medication at 14:59 on a Friday and have it in the shop at 16:45. If I order it at 15:01, I'll have it on Saturday morning.
However, the cut-off times for next day delivery for DTP meds vary widely, and can be as early as 13:30. And if it's Friday, "Next Day" means Monday. Tuesday if it's a Public Holiday weekend.
The pharmacy has absolutely no control over this. Pharmacists have been actively campaigning against the introduction and spread of DTP distribution, as it reduces the level of service that we can provide to our patients.

echo beach

Gael23 wrote: »

I have previously dealt with a pharmacy that frequently had items out of stock, only went there because I found the pharmacist good.

Drug shortages are a regular problem in this country but only ones like the current shortage of TB vaccines ever make the news. Out of stock items are a problem in every pharmacy for various reasons,
http://ipu.ie/article/pharmacists-highlight-medicine-shortages-putting-patients-at-risk/
but seldom affect the high-tech medicines so if you order a couple of days ahead there isn't usually a problem.

Gael23

Its unreasonable to expect a pharmacy to have a stock of everything of course. But I don't think its too much to expect them to have medicines commonly prescribed by Doctors in stock as well as non prescription items.

On the High tech drugs, do you have to get any approvals from the HSE due to the high cost?

palmcut

Gael23 wrote: »

Its unreasonable to expect a pharmacy to have a stock of everything of course. But I don't think its too much to expect them to have medicines commonly prescribed by Doctors in stock as well as non prescription items.

On the High tech drugs, do you have to get any approvals from the HSE due to the high cost?

The prescribed drug will have to be on the HSE approved list. The consultant sends a copy of the prescription to the HSE and the pharmacy also sends a copy of the prescription to the HSE.

Some of the high tech items are extremely expensive. Some cost over 10,000 euros per month. A few days notice in some cases is essential. These are drugs that the wholesalers will not take back. Some patients on high tech medicines will have dose changes or medication changes.
Generally the high tech medicine will be procured by your pharmacy in plenty of time. Have a chat with your local pharmacy.