Medicine in Spain

Tar.Aldarion · 01-08-2013 6:59pm

Who cares if they pull out when they can just be replaced?

The_Conductor · 01-08-2013 7:01pm

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

Who cares if they pull out when they can just be replaced?

Just be replaced?
Lol- if only that were the case.
We've given no end of incentives to them to get them to setup facilities here- we need every job we can keep- we can't afford to throw any good jobs out the window, just to make a hypothetical point.

churrusco2 · 09-08-2013 9:09am

I see some misconceptions here. Can't blame you though as the Spanish health system is quite complex.

First, those saying 0% are absolutely correct when putting that 0% in the context of the OP case. OP is not getting any subsidy on its medicines because he does not have a Spanish national health card. As simply as that. Spanish subsidies on medicines to pharmacies are applied *after* the medicament is sold and are linked to those health cards. And actually that's the main reason why so many Spanish pharmacies are broken, because the government pays them back with many months of delay, sometimes more than a year.

On the percentages point you are just partially correct. In Spain, only active workers and people receiving the unemployment subsidy pay 40%-60%. Then if you are a long term unemployed (+1.5 yrs) you pay nothing. If you are a pensioner, you pay nothing. If you are a socially excluded person, have problems with drugs, and many other particular cases, you pay nothing. If you have a cronical illness you pay just 4€ per prescription, ...

So there is many cases in which that Tysabri would actually cost 0€

sandin wrote: »

In Spain Consumer pays 40% of price, Government pays 60% on all medicines.

In Ireland, those on medical card pay 1.50 no matter what the cost, gov pays balance.

Those without medical cards pay a MAXIMUM of €144 per month per family (children under 18 or under 23 if they are in college) and government pays the rest.

As I've said before - cheap medicines are cheaper for non medical card holders in spain, but expensive medicines are way cheaper here.

e.g. MS drug Tysabri - Annual cost = about €25,000.
In Spain you will pay €10,000 per year, in Ireland you will pay a maximum of €1,728 and every other medicine your family requires would cost zero.

So looking at the bigger picture, I'd rather pay a little more for aspirin and know that any major drug will not cost me more than €144 a month.

Soarer · 09-08-2013 9:39am

We get screwed every which way. If it's not "prescription" drugs, it's something else.

Just keep bending over guys!

Tar.Aldarion · 09-08-2013 9:54am

The_Conductor wrote: »

Just be replaced?
Lol- if only that were the case.
We've given no end of incentives to them to get them to setup facilities here- we need every job we can keep- we can't afford to throw any good jobs out the window, just to make a hypothetical point.

You think, that if there were no pharmacies here, that they would not be replaced? Free money.

Kurtosis · 09-08-2013 10:15am

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

You think, that if there were no pharmacies here, that they would not be replaced? Free money.

I think rovoagho's comment above is regarding pharmaceutical companies, rather than pharmacies.

The_Conductor · 09-08-2013 10:16am

penguin88 wrote: »

I think rovoagho's comment above is regarding pharmaceutical companies, rather than pharmacies.

That was my interpretation too- correct me if I'm wrong.

Tar.Aldarion · 09-08-2013 11:21am

I had thought it was pharmacies! pharmas was not the best choice of word

keithclancy · 09-08-2013 12:24pm

Soarer wrote: »

We get screwed every which way. If it's not "prescription" drugs, it's something else.

Just keep bending over guys!

At least you don't have to pay to go to the Toilet like in Germany/The Netherlands.

Motor Tax / Fuel and cars are a good bit cheaper in Ireland also.

Never mind over half your money going out in Tax/Government Charges and Health Insurance.

Leaving out the Water Defence Charge, Standing Charge, Water per Cublic Meter, Electricity/Gas is more expensive.

In Germany you have the Solidarity Tax, Catholic Tax and so on ..

Taxed up the hole so we are

On the other side at least theres public transport to speak of.

Move to Germany and when you have to pay 3 months rent in Advance just to move into a place let me know if its not a rip off.

Soarer · 09-08-2013 12:27pm

Cars are cheaper in Ireland than in Germany?

keithclancy · 09-08-2013 12:56pm

Soarer wrote: »

Cars are cheaper in Ireland than in Germany?

Yup, even worse in the Netherlands, people that move from Ireland/The UK keep their car on Irish/UK plates for as long as possible.

rocky · 09-08-2013 1:42pm

Soarer wrote: »

Cars are cheaper in Ireland than in Germany?

keithclancy wrote: »

Yup, even worse in the Netherlands, people that move from Ireland/The UK keep their car on Irish/UK plates for as long as possible.

Ireland: New Golf from 20k
Germany: New Golf from 17.175,00 €

rovoagho · 10-08-2013 6:24am

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

I had thought it was pharmacies! pharmas was not the best choice of word

It's commonplace.

Greenmachine · 15-08-2013 10:10am

I must look into prices in the north. Can anyone point me to the cost of prescription medicines in the north. My prescription costs exceed the €144. Money I can't afford to pay.

paddydriver · 15-08-2013 12:27pm

Greenmachine wrote: »

I must look into prices in the north. Can anyone point me to the cost of prescription medicines in the north. My prescription costs exceed the €144. Money I can't afford to pay.

+1 - My wife is shelling out the €144 p/m too and this thread is really making me frustrated! My bro in law is pharmacist and even when he looks at all generics and tries to shave it down as best as possible, its still over the €144.. Crazy stuff.

Thinking of sending copy of prescription to friend in Derry and asking him what he can get it for us for.

IRCA · 15-08-2013 1:15pm

Hi everyone,

I've been able to get my prescription from a UK Online Pharmacy (Basic Asthma medication) without the need for a doctors prescription here (saving me a vist ot the GP €65 and repeat prescripiton charge €30). Costs me approx €10 to have an inhaler delivered (free delivery via UPS). Have used many times and they are 100% reputable and genuine. You can also email/fax your prescription to them and they will quote you a price. I know it may not suit everyone, for me it has saved me a visit to the GP and the meds are delivered in 2/3 days.

I'm not affiliated in anyway with them - here's their website

www.healthexpress.co.uk

Do a search on the web and you can usually get a 5 or 10% discount code for them.

former legend · 15-08-2013 1:52pm

IRCA wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've been able to get my prescription from a UK Online Pharmacy (Basic Asthma medication) without the need for a doctors prescription here (saving me a vist ot the GP €65 and repeat prescripiton charge €30). Costs me approx €10 to have an inhaler delivered (free delivery via UPS). Have used many times and they are 100% reputable and genuine. You can also email/fax your prescription to them and they will quote you a price. I know it may not suit everyone, for me it has saved me a visit to the GP and the meds are delivered in 2/3 days.

I'm not affiliated in anyway with them - here's their website

www.healthexpress.co.uk

Do a search on the web and you can usually get a 5 or 10% discount code for them.

The caveat here is that mail order of medicines is illegal in Ireland; if Customs realise that it's a medicine, they'll confiscate and destroy it.

Esel · 17-08-2013 12:32am

keithclancy wrote: »

At least you don't have to pay to go to the Toilet like in Germany/The Netherlands.

I'm sure people here would be happy to pay a modest fee to have proper public toilet facilities.

keithclancy wrote: »

Taxed up the hole so we are

That obviates the need for public toilets, then....

The_Conductor · 17-08-2013 8:47am

Esel wrote: »

I'm sure people here would be happy to pay a modest fee to have proper public toilet facilities.

That obviates the need for public toilets, then....

Lots of places in Ireland charge a small cover charge to use toilet facilities, which in turn pays for keeping them clean (and appealing). If you have young children in nappies, and you're out and about at all- you learn to seek out these places- they're a revelation, and a godsend. Even if you have to have 20c or 50c to use them- its the best money that you'll spend that day.

Anyhow- we're gone totally off topic.

With respect of buying medications from other EU countries- its perfectly legal to do so- so long as you don't send them via the postal system/courier- and they have to be for personal use. We've established this.

Mustard1972 · 17-08-2013 8:59am

just back from a mini break in Spain and we arranged with the pharmacist over there to post us some ongoing medication that my son needs.
it will work out have the price of what it costs us in Ireland every month. it was a quick and painless process.

We have an apartment over there so the pharmacist actually said it to us since we are into him every trip for the medication anyway and he knows us.

we didn't know you could do that.
All they needed was our prescription , passport and a credit card.

The_Conductor · 17-08-2013 9:02am

Mustard1972 wrote: »

just back from a mini break in Spain and we arranged with the pharmacist over there to post us some ongoing medication that my son needs.
it will work out have the price of what it costs us in Ireland every month. it was a quick and painless process.

We have an apartment over there so the pharmacist actually said it to us since we are into him every trip for the medication anyway and he knows us.

we didn't know you could do that.
All they needed was our prescription , passport and a credit card.

Much as I know you don't want to hear this- its perfectly legal for them to post the prescriptions to you. Its illegal for you to receive them through the post. If customs/excise in Portlaoise (or elsewhere) check your parcel, it will be confiscated and destroyed. It is illegal to receive prescription medication via post/courier etc here in Ireland. Thankyou IMB :mad:

Mustard1972 · 17-08-2013 9:33am

The_Conductor wrote: »

Much as I know you don't want to hear this- its perfectly legal for them to post the prescriptions to you. Its illegal for you to receive them through the post. If customs/excise in Portlaoise (or elsewhere) check your parcel, it will be confiscated and destroyed. It is illegal to receive prescription medication via post/courier etc here in Ireland. Thankyou IMB :mad:

I've ordered plenty of prescription meds from the us and uk before and nothing has been stopped yet. some parcels were even opened and a customs sticker put on them.

The_Conductor · 17-08-2013 9:34am

Mustard1972 wrote: »

I've ordered plenty of prescription meds from the us and uk before and nothing has been stopped yet. some parcels were even opened and a customs sticker put on them.

Well- they are opening a hell of a lot more parcels now than they ever were in the past- read any of the threads in the Bargain Alerts forum. It is illegal- and regardless of whether you've gotten away with it in the past or not- you will get caught sooner or later.

Mustard1972 · 17-08-2013 12:46pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

Well- they are opening a hell of a lot more parcels now than they ever were in the past- read any of the threads in the Bargain Alerts forum. It is illegal- and regardless of whether you've gotten away with it in the past or not- you will get caught sooner or later.

Id say they open 75% of the ones I get already and I have to pay vat on them and a handling charge.
Just got an order of 3 months supply of esomeprazole and seretide wednesday morning from the US (less than a third the price I would pay here even including the postage and duty, vat and handling charges or whatever it is they add on. The spanish chemist will be even cheaper for some medicines but not all) that was opened and closed again with the opened by customs sticker. They almost always open them to be fair. But they are closing them up and letting them on to me too, with a bill.

So I would say I am being "caught" at least 75% of the orders I receive. They dont seem to mind whats in them though and let them on.

54kroc · 17-08-2013 1:01pm

Can you get anything similar to Silcock's Base in Spain?
Heading over next month and it would save me the bother of bringing some over with me.

Mustard1972 · 17-08-2013 1:18pm

54kroc wrote: »

Can you get anything similar to Silcock's Base in Spain?
Heading over next month and it would save me the bother of bringing some over with me.

I dont even know what that is but try ringing a pharmacy where you are going and they will tell you. And for certain drugs, that you need a prescription for here, you dont need one in spain.

You can use parcel motel to get stuff delivered to the north too and just collect it here if postage to Ireland is excessive, or if as the person above says they ever start confiscating your packages after opening them.

tatli_lokma · 17-08-2013 2:36pm

Silcocks base is a fairly standard topical treatment, so I would say you will get it easy enough. It might be called something else, but a quick Google and you should be able to find out what the Spanish equivalent is called.

Thewife · 18-08-2013 11:46am

Can you get valium without prescription in spain ?

josh59 · 20-08-2013 9:23pm

former legend wrote: »

Ordering medicines over the internet is illegal.

Importing prescription medicines into Ireland via the post etc is illegal. I buy all our hay fever remedies, painkillers and other assorted bits and bobs online from the UK have never had a problem - cheap as chips too.

Got all my generic anti histamines for this year and next for a fiver.

Oscars Mum · 20-08-2013 10:00pm

You CAN'T get Valium OTC in Spain. I am in Spain now and will be hitting the chemist tomorrow for a years supply of medication for me and some family members and we will each save 3/400 each.....

sunny2004 · 22-08-2013 4:01pm

I love this thread, you know why ?
I read every single post and I am MORE confused now then when I started !!
Keep up the good work guys !!!!

dubmick · 22-08-2013 8:24pm

just to add if anyone is on Eltroxin, it is ridiculously cheap in Spain compared to here. No prescription required.

The_Conductor · 22-08-2013 8:36pm

dubmick wrote: »

just to add if anyone is on Eltroxin, it is ridiculously cheap in Spain compared to here. No prescription required.

Just got a box of 28 100Mg tablets this afternoon- 14.25 in the local pharmacy.

It seems to have shot up in price in the last few months- and the generic is exactly the same amount (come to think of it- they've had a different brand every month for the past few months- perhaps theres a supply issue?)

Go-on, make me cringe- how much is a box of 28 there?

ROVER · 23-08-2013 12:50am

Eutirox by Merck same as Eltroxin 100mg€2.60 for box of 84. No prescription required.

Fighting Irish · 23-08-2013 12:56am

My monthly meds cost the gov around 10,000 a month, thanks lads

keithclancy · 23-08-2013 8:36am

Jesus ... this is as bad as an thread on a US forum.

SteM · 28-09-2013 5:21pm

Was chatting to my Dad earlier who has to take heart medication daily. He has a free travel pass so him and my Mum decided to go up north during the week to see how much his medication would cost. e150 per month here and a small chemist up there charged him the equivalent of e80. They even offered to post it down to him monthly but he declined. Mum said that she got talking to a few people while waiting on the train back - all older couples like them and all going to get cheaper medication.

Delighted that he can get his medication cheaper - they really don't have much money. On the other hand really saddened that they have to go north to get it.

spank_inferno · 28-09-2013 6:54pm

Dont feel bad about your folks doing the right thing.

hypersonic · 28-09-2013 8:20pm

spank_inferno wrote: »

Dont feel bad about your folks doing the right thing.

+1 on this, it's a complete racket south of the border, ROI = 1st world prices & 3rd world care.

The_Conductor · 28-09-2013 10:14pm

Was just told by a cousin in Maryland that their local supermarket (called Giant Eagle) are running a promotion- spend $50 instore (on anything at all) and get 2 weeks of generic drugs on prescription entirely free of charge. You have to have a prescription for them- and they'll only dispense 2 weeks per visit. In addition to this- get a flu vaccination (free) and get a voucher for 20c a gallon off fuel.

Its only generic medications- and there is only one flu vaccination on offer- but by god if Tesco or someone started doing something similar here- we'd be sorted for once and for all.

Link here to the Giant Eagle offer: http://www.gianteagle.com/Save/Health-Savings-Programs/

Coincidentally- they told me they package the medication on site- you can ring ahead and order an easy swallow coating on your tablets (sort of like on Panadol easy-swallow) or ask them to add sweetener or a fruit flavour of your choice to any medication. Now thats what I call service.

If you could get a few months supply in one go- instead of only a forthnight's worth- I know I'd be on a flight to Baltimore asap..........

L1011 · 28-09-2013 10:25pm

Quite likely they'd have a Computer Says No moment with an Irish prescription. From memory most drugs in the US are sold as seperate pills rather than blister packs hence the ability to coat them - they're pretty much all blister-packed here except some antibiotics and aspirin these days.

This is a bloody horrendously bad idea of theirs as it happens.

Tesco's pharmacies are reported to run at a loss as it is, loss-leader to get customers in; doing something like this would just push it further in to the red and require food price increases to cover it.

The_Conductor · 28-09-2013 10:32pm

http://www.gianteagle.com/Save/Health-Savings-Programs/4-10-Dollar-Drug-Program/Discount-Drugs/

$10 for 3 months supply of a list of over 200 different generics........ This is wholly separate to their freebie offer.........

Why the hell aren't we all getting flights to Maryland or Pennsylvania?

L1011 · 28-09-2013 10:35pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

http://www.gianteagle.com/Save/Health-Savings-Programs/4-10-Dollar-Drug-Program/Discount-Drugs/

$10 for 3 months supply of a list of over 200 different generics........ This is wholly separate to their freebie offer.........

Why the hell aren't we all getting flights to Maryland or Pennsylvania?

Two reasons:

1: Prescription validity. These places are governed entirely by their dispensing system and if the doctor isn't known and authorised to prescribe on it you aren't getting a thing.

2: DPS. 3x144 != the cost of a return ticket to the US.

Karl Stein · 29-09-2013 12:56am

I'm thinking of becoming a prescription medicine smuggler.

The EU needs to step in a demand that prescriptions can be given and filled across the EU. A small bit of 'free' market for the protected species would be nice wouldn't it?

The_Conductor · 29-09-2013 8:28am

MYOB wrote: »

Two reasons:

1: Prescription validity. These places are governed entirely by their dispensing system and if the doctor isn't known and authorised to prescribe on it you aren't getting a thing.

2: DPS. 3x144 != the cost of a return ticket to the US.

1- We could get around by recognising each others prescriptions. We already recognise qualifications- so why not take this a step further. The IMO already have the list of Irish registered doctors online- its not exactly a gigantic step to make this more readily available.

2- Effectively $10 for a return flight to Maryland? Who would be unhappy with this? Admittedly- its generics rather than name brands- but so what.

We are having the piss taken out of us here. I paid 3.80 for a packet of paracetamol in Boots yesterday- ffs (ontop of my 140 a month- and I'm going to have to pay E20 for a flu jab next weekend- which curiously the 140 doesn't cover).

It really beggars belief that we're not up in arms.

OU812 · 29-09-2013 8:40am

Was in Spain a couple of weeks ago.

Got a pack of 48 generic ibuprofen for €3.40. Should of bought more.

snubbleste · 29-09-2013 9:39am

OU812 wrote: »

Was in Spain a couple of weeks ago.
Got a pack of 48 generic ibuprofen for €3.40. Should of bought more.

That's insane!
You should be only paying a few cent per tablet
http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/index.jsp?bmUID=1380443798084
16 ibuprofen tablets for 25p

pjproby · 29-09-2013 12:12pm

Anyone email a prescription to any pharmacist in Newry to price it before travelling?

L1011 · 29-09-2013 1:15pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

1- We could get around by recognising each others prescriptions. We already recognise qualifications- so why not take this a step further. The IMO already have the list of Irish registered doctors online- its not exactly a gigantic step to make this more readily available.

Who is going to pay for the protracted and complicated negotiations that the government/Medical Council are going to have to have with the FDA and multiple individual state boards of health? And then the same again with the pharmacy chains?

The_Conductor wrote: »

2- Effectively $10 for a return flight to Maryland? Who would be unhappy with this? Admittedly- its generics rather than name brands- but so what.

Where are you finding return flights to the US for under 430?

Then add in transfer costs - there aren't supermarket pharmacies in airports; accommodation, value of annual leave, etc, etc.

snubbleste · 29-09-2013 1:18pm

MYOB wrote: »

Where are you finding return flights to the US for under 430?

They are published on the airlines' website.

Medicine in Spain

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