Too high for some- too low for others (Medicine - Is the price we pay too high?)

Member Name: jeanjeannie

Product:	Medicine - Is the price we pay too high?
Date:	03/07/01 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: higher prices = more research = more people helped

Disadvantages: people who can't pay suffer.

You do get free prescriptions if you have medication for a thyroid problem whether it is over or under active. This is a life threatening condition hence it is free. What is stupid is that ALL your medication is free if you have this illness - even paracetamol if your doctor considers you need it.

Other people who qualify are those suffering from -
diabetes, epilepsy, permanent stomas, myasthenia gravis and Addison's disease.
children under 16 years old.
students under 19 in full time education.
people over 60.
people on income support or working family credit.
people getting Jobseeker's Allowance.
people receiving Disability Working Allowance.
war pensioners - for prescriptions relating to their war disablement.
pregnant women.
women who have had a child in the past year.

What they should do is --

exempt the drug from payment not the person -it would not be that difficult. Your GP writes out a script - you take it to the chemist - they look at the drugs prescribed and say - " your thyroid medication is free but you must pay for the other items". Easy peasy - what's wrong with that? Can't see any extra administration charges here - would save the NHS a fortune I'm sure.

It might then be possible to give chronic asthmatics free asthma medication which is also life threatening and a really nasty illness to live with. My daughter has a frightening number of inhalers every month plus steroids from time to time so she buys a prepaid certificate for 12 months. Prepayment charges are £32.00 for four months and £84.00 a year.
You use the prepayment like a season ticket to pay for prescriptions. You can get an application form FP95 (EC95 in Scotland) from a Social Security office, main post office, pharmacist or Health Authority. The form tells you what to do.

It might pay to discuss your symptoms with the pharmacist he or she may be able to suggest a med
icine for your condition which you did not even know was available. The pharmacist may also be able to suggest an unbranded generic product which is an identical but cheaper alternative to a brand name drug. It is also worth checking with the pharmacist whether a medicine prescribed by the doctor may actually be cheaper to buy over the counter. you can not rely on your GP to know the cost of all medicines unfortunately.

After many years of not needing any medication my husband and I are getting to the age where everything starts to give out or wear out and both of us have monthly prescriptions. He has to pay for his even though the medication is for high blood pressure and he would probably have a stroke or heart attack without it but that's the way it is. He has paid his stamp all his life but does not consider that this entitles him to free medicine. That is an impossible dream. Utopia.

We can't be wrapped in cotton wool all our lives and we must expect to pay a reasonable amount towards our own well-being. How many people spend over £4.00 a day on cigarettes??

I, on the other hand, do not pay for mine as I have had an operation on my thyroid and require medication to survive. However, it is ridiculous that I get my other medication free. Why? it does not make any sense.
I would be quite happy to pay for the other pills and potions but it is not an option and I am sorry to say that I am not that altruistic. Wish I was!

There is the safety net of the 'means test' if someone is unemployed and/or claiming benefit then at least their medication is free when they need it. Not sure I am so happy to think that drug addicts who claim benefit also get free methadone and the like but it seems impossible to be totally fair to everyone doesn't it? If only !

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