What a rip off

[sduffy]

Just read in the Advertiser today that Aussies are paying up to 21 times more than Brits for 19 out of 20 of the most common prescription items.How on earth is this allowed.

 

I know a lot of things are expensive here but this is beyond ridiculous.

 

Sue

[NicF]

Probably because the cost of drugs in the UK is heavily subsidised by the NHS and people only pay a persription charge rather than the cost of the drug. I'm assuming it means the cost the individual pays rather than the pharmasit? We also pay more for GP visits here. Doesn't really mean anything - just that the health system here is different to that in the UK.

[sueoc]

I agree Sue.What i find amazing (besides the cost of some prescriptions)is the vast difference in price from Chemist to Chemist.I have seen items 7 times Cheaper in the Chemist Warehouse,than in the other one that uses Discount in its name to lure you in.It certainly pays to shop around here,or you will soon be in the Poorhouse!!!

[Lily Rainbow]

How much is a prescription?

[GarethB]

Nonsense, but don't let facts get in the way of a good story as they say. Its easy just to find another 200+ script items that are cheaper here than the UK/Europe & USA. At the end of the day "most" script lines will cost no more than the $36.90 co-payment (or $6.00 for concession card holders). We are very fortunate, im my opinion, to have such a great system here (medicare & PBS), unlike the UK where the NHS will cover a Gluten Free Pizza base! Don't forget its the tax payer that pays for everything, $36.90 is a very reasonable price to pay for a medication that presumably is giving you back quality of life.

Interestingly JUNK food is far cheaper here than the UK, maybe if this wasn't the case then the need for prescription medicines wouldn't be so high??

[sduffy]

As a Coeliac,consider your comments somewhat flippant i was diagnosed here so didnt have the opportunity afforded to Coeliacs in the Uk.The price of a lot of coeliac products are outrageously priced,it is bad enough suffering from the disease and the other diseases which stem from it,WITHOUT ALSO BEING SLUGGED AGAIN IN THE POCKET.Personally agree with the NHS assistance in that regard.

 

I would love the opportunity to indulge occasionally in junk food but as a coeliac would never be able to do that.

 

 

We all have several chronic illnesses and sometimes have to buy medicines which are available on an NHS prescription,but not covered on the PBS scheme,and can cost well over a hundred dollars per item.My friend tells me that her friend recently bought a asthma inhaler in Turkey for one pound ,eighty pence,how can you justify such a differance.

 

 

There are so many things here,utilities etc which are adjudged the most expensive in the world,ripping people off on vital medications when often people are already economically struggling is abhorrent.No wonder so many here look so much older than their yrs.

 

Sue

[Guest Spitfire]

Worth remembering that NHS contributions are significantly more expensive than Medicare contributions as a percentage of salary. But also worth pointing out that Australians are certainly ripped off more than British people, but these are the perils of living in a smaller economy where you can easily be held to ransom.

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

Tel is gluten free......tbh we buy hardly any "specially" gluten free food for him......I haven't ever really used package foods so I guess I never had to change too much, fish, meat, veg, potatoes, rice etc

 

lots of things here they put on the free from shelves with a huge mark up but if you look in the normal shelves you can often find stuff there without the price up, ie rice crackers, and selling you tamari sauce for about $6 when fountain brand soy sauce ($1.50) is gf anyway.

 

We pay $7 for a ventolin inhaler here over the counter, in the uk, a prescription charge is 8.05 GBP ($14.50) and you get 2 inhalers so no different.......buying medications overseas is ofter cheaper (we used to pay 40rs, or 40 cents in India) but they are not as regulated and you often find fakes and even if not fake may be of a much lower quality or inconsistent.

[sduffy]

I have never paid 7 dollars for an inhaler,last time for Ventolin i had one inhaler for 18 dollars.Do you have a bulk billing Dr we dont.

 

My bread is 9 dollars for a very small loaf i am allergic to soy and the vast majority of the gluten free loaves in the supermarket all contain soy.

 

In addition we have to travel quite a distance to buy it.Ventolin isnt too bad but in the uk i paid when last there seven pounds fifty,here my last one for one i paid 38 dollars.That is a big difference.

 

Sue

[wrussell]

Just read in the Advertiser today that Aussies are paying up to 21 times more than Brits for 19 out of 20 of the most common prescription items.How on earth is this allowed.

 

I know a lot of things are expensive here but this is beyond ridiculous.

 

Sue

 

Who has a snout in the trough?

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

I have never paid 7 dollars for an inhaler,last time for Ventolin i had one inhaler for 18 dollars.Do you have a bulk billing Dr we dont.

 

My bread is 9 dollars for a very small loaf i am allergic to soy and the vast majority of the gluten free loaves in the supermarket all contain soy.

 

In addition we have to travel quite a distance to buy it.Ventolin isnt too bad but in the uk i paid when last there seven pounds fifty,here my last one for one i paid 38 dollars.That is a big difference.

 

Sue

 

Sue, we never see our GP to get a prescription for an inhaler, you can walk in to any pharmacy and buy one, some places they record your address but most don't even do that, Tel bought one the other day from chemist warehouse in Glenelg it was $6.00 that was the actual branded ventolin, they sell a generic one for very slightly less. Where on earth are you paying $38????

 

in coles you can buy bread, rolls and muffins from "purebred" they are gluten and soy free and I think $6, I have occasionally bought them or made my own bread, mostly we don't bother. The whole celiac thing is as complicated as you make it, I can appreciate that it must be harder to be diagnosed as an adult and then have to stop eating things. It may help to stop trying to replace things that you miss, they are never the same anyway, and it is easy and no more expensive to eat than anyone else then.

 

Claire

[sduffy]

Claire,you cant get a preventer inhaler without a prescription,only ventolin.I have been to several chemists that have charged 38.00 dollars.

 

The coeliac thing is incredibly difficult as it has unfortunately led to a whole host of other bad food allergies so what i can eat is incredibly limiting.I think i went diagnosed for a long time and i have to have a whole host of minerals,iron ,probiotics on a daily basis and the cost of those really add up.The coeliac has led to some pretty severe other health issues,so it is incredibly expensive.When you have several chronic problems the expense,on one wage is very bad.

 

Due to us all having chronic health issues the cost of private insurance is just unaffordable for us.

 

On top of that our gorgeous Scottie dog has Lupus,Hepititis,Diabetes and Cushings disease,he has health insurance but we have to pay out hundreds each month for meds ,regular blood tests,specialised food,so all in all a nightmare.

 

Sue

[Guest Guest14361]

I have medication for cholesterol, I have to take 20ml tablets so I buy 40 ml tablets cut them in half, which means I get 2 4 1 and get my doc to give me 6 months supply, cheaper in bulk. Also my blood pressure tablets, doc gave me one, researched via Google, showed doc now take 2 tablets doing the same as one tablet and a quarter of the cost and again 6 months supply is cheaper.

[SWMBO]

Are you on Seretide $36.90 or Fixotide max $36.90 depending on doses at chemist warehouse.We are a family of 4 with 3 asthmatics and have to get at least 3 of these a month or more if having to boost for cover during problem times.And ventolin $11.98 for 2 on prescription.

Are any children uni students if so they can try to get a low income health care card.

 

Claire,you cant get a preventer inhaler without a prescription,only ventolin.I have been to several chemists that have charged 38.00 dollars.

 

The coeliac thing is incredibly difficult as it has unfortunately led to a whole host of other bad food allergies so what i can eat is incredibly limiting.I think i went diagnosed for a long time and i have to have a whole host of minerals,iron ,probiotics on a daily basis and the cost of those really add up.The coeliac has led to some pretty severe other health issues,so it is incredibly expensive.When you have several chronic problems the expense,on one wage is very bad.

 

Due to us all having chronic health issues the cost of private insurance is just unaffordable for us.

 

On top of that our gorgeous Scottie dog has Lupus,Hepititis,Diabetes and Cushings disease,he has health insurance but we have to pay out hundreds each month for meds ,regular blood tests,specialised food,so all in all a nightmare.

 

Sue

[sduffy]

I am on Qvar.Do you pay the 37.00 dollars per individual inhaler.?

 

Sue

[sduffy]

I think if the budget passes it will be increasing to 42.00 dollars per prescription item,so i heard.

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

Do you and your family reach the safety net threshold Sue?

[SWMBO]

Max $36.90 per inhaler. Qavar at chemist warehouse is depending on dose a max of $34.99 per inhaler

It costs us about $300 per month in meds. Not all for asthma.

Edited October 9, 2014 by SWMBO

[sduffy]

Usually just under Claire sadly and a lot of the things i require are not encompassed by the safety net.

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

Qvar 100 is $27.99 in chemist ware house Sue.......it really pays to do a bit of shopping around, $10 on one prescription is a lot especially if you are unfortunate enough to need lots of different meds.....

[SWMBO]

Chemist Warehouse will also deliver if ordered online .This is free on orders over $99.

[sduffy]

I always have the autohaler,find it much better delivery and that is 35 dollars,so not much differance really.The non authaler was causing problems with my teeth.

 

Have found shopping around is impt as i have a lot of allergies i have to take an antihistimine every day ,as does my daughter.Originally used to pay about 15 dollars for 10 was causing me a small fortune,chemist warehouse had recent offer 70 for 35 dollars,much cheaper,but an expense on top of all the other stuff.

[EmmaB]

Are children's prescriptions free? My son has asthma and allergies, should I be stockpiling in our freight or is that likely to get me done for drug smuggling if antihistamines and inhalers?

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

Hi Emma!......children's prescriptions are not free.....you actually could bring a stockpile as you are coming on a 475 visa so not actually moving, you can't put it in your shipping though you'll have to have it in your luggage, make sure you have a copy of the prescriptions and a note from your doctor wouldn't hurt. Leave the medicine is in its original packaging and make sure you declare it.

[EmmaB]

Good to know. Thanks