NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

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Paphos Life
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NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by Paphos Life »

Cypriots will have to get used to the idea that they will be unable to obtain prescription medicine without an actual prescription when the national health scheme comes into force.This is one of the changes anticipated with the introduction of the scheme...

Read the article and chat about it below...
Varky
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by Varky »

At the moment if you are a patient at the General Hospital you can get the prescription filled at the Pharmacy attached to the Hospital for €0.50 per item. However the selection of drugs available is limited to generic types.

Will this change mean that the General Hospital doctors are free to prescribe from a wider selection of drugs and that private pharmacies will supply from this wider choice of drugs for €1.00.
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Dominic
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by Dominic »

If you don't need a prescription to buy the drugs, I don't see how you will be affected. You will only be affected if you are buying drugs that should only be available on prescription (like antibiotics etc) without one.
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trevnhil
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by trevnhil »

At the moment if you are on Antibiotics you can find Pharmacies that will sell you them without prescription, especially if they know you have been taking them before.
Last edited by trevnhil on Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by Dominic »

Which is one reason these changes are being implemented.
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jeba
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by jeba »

trevnhil wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:10 pm At the moment if you are on Antibiotics you can fine Pharmacies that will sell you them without prescription, especially if they know you have been taking them before.
Is this a typo and you meant find rather than fine?
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by trevnhil »

Yes it is Jeba... I will alter it..
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Dominic
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by Dominic »

Yes you will. Basically it will be like it is in the UK, only cheaper.

That's my take on it, anyway.
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galexinda
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by galexinda »

Hudswell wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 9:07 pm
Dominic wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:06 pm If you don't need a prescription to buy the drugs, I don't see how you will be affected. You will only be affected if you are buying drugs that should only be available on prescription (like antibiotics etc) without one.
My point is Dominic, I currently take statins, pump inhibitors, and blood pressure tabs....all of which have been "prescribed" by a doctor......once...Now under these new regulations will I now have to obtain a repeat perscription from a private GP, no doubt at a cost, to continue to receive my meds......I am not entitled to " subsidised" health care in Cyprus as I am under UK state retirement age.
However, Hudswell, if you do go and see a doctor you may find you no longer need these medications, or perhaps a different dosage? Another consideration is the long term side effects.
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by darrow »

MOH recently was issued a private prescription. 4 weeks medicine €10, because the general pharmacy doesn't have them. Therefore he will benefit from the €1 charge..
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by trevnhil »

I didn't know that you take a private prescription, to the General Pharmacy..
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by galexinda »

Great news Hudswell and thank you for clarifying that you do have an annual medical check up. When I read your original comment regarding buying repeat medicines that had originally been prescribed, I was under the impression that you just kept returning to the pharmacy to purchase them. I'm currently doing a course called 'Strategies for Successful Ageing' as I also want to have a healthy 'old age'.
daveg
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by daveg »

I can see yet more people going to the North for their meds.....
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by darrow »

trevnhil wrote: Mon Jul 09, 2018 9:37 am I didn't know that you take a private prescription, to the General Pharmacy..
sorry. misunderstanding there Trev. The prescription was issued by the doctor in the general to take to public chemist because they are not issued by the general hospital pharmacy.
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by Varky »

Correct me if I am wrong. If any doctor, private or state writes a prescription to be filled at a private pharmacy then the charges will be as follows

Charge for seeing the doctor (State or Private) to write a repeat prescription
+ €1.00 (for the Pharmacy to fill the prescription)
+ The full cost of the medication

Will the General Hospital Pharmacy still be available to qualifying patients at €0.50 per item?
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by trevnhil »

Thanks Darrow for that clarification :-)
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by galexinda »

Interesting comment by Varky regarding pharmacies charging for private prescriptions, as I have heard of this happening, but not in the case of people I know who always use the pharmacy attached to the private clinic where they saw the doctor and there is no additional charge for the pharmacy to fill the prescription. So perhaps this is only the case if you see a doctor privately and then have to go elsewhere to change the prescription?
darrow
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by darrow »

Hudswell wrote: Sun Jul 08, 2018 3:36 pm It is going to be interesting to see who is covered and who is not by this new "service" and how I will impact on those, like me and many others, who do not currently qualify...and through necessity use the Private system...I currently take a couple of medications on a daily basis which although originally prescribed...I do not get/need a repeat perscription..of course I pay the retail price for them...but would certainly begrudge an additional charge for a repeat perscription from my private GP....
As I understand, having just re- read through the jargon, everyone, will pay into the new system, via tax, or social insurance. You will be able to register with whatever Doctor you choose, private or otherwise, proving they have signed up to GESY.. Pharmacies will prescribe prescriptions at €1 per item, the rest subsidised by GESY.. You can still elect to go directly to a private Doctor at a cost of €25. Whether you use the system or not will be down to the individual, but everyone pays in, apart from certain exemptions. All available on MOH Web site.
They are still registering GP and Specialist at the moment, with an incentive of 14% pay rise for Doctors signing up for a 3 year contract. No sign of where where the public can sign up for a Doctor as yet. Unless someone knows different?
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by LouiseCastricum »

David Brown wrote: Tue Feb 19, 2019 6:02 pm My cardiologist tells me this system will be inplimented in June but how ex pats are effected depends on the results of brexit.
You mean ex pats from the UK I think.
Louise :)
darrow
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Re: NHS to usher in changes in pharmaceuticals

Post by darrow »

Only this week, we have been assured by the Cypriot Government that the status quo will remain, Brexit it or no Brexit ! It appears that the contribution is coming from everyone with the exception of a few people. All on the MOH site. I assume if you wish to have private insurance, that will be up to you? It doesn't make it clear, in fact, it doesn't mention it at all, if the contributions are from gross income, or after the tax allowance. It does give a capped rate though, for instance of €10 for blood tests and a maximum amount you will be expected to pay over any one year! Not sure how they intend to keep track of that! Hopefully it will all become clearer as time moves on.
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