GESY - Not happy with Medication situation

[Tsadaken]

We went to see our nominated GP this morning to get my repeat prescription for items which I have regularly picked up from the General.

The GP was unable to prescribe my Diabetic Test Strips and Lancets - as they are not on the GESY medication List.

Next went to the Pharmacy only to find that the 10 items on my list were going to cost just over 30 Euros instead of the 10 Euros I expected - apparently I was told that it was because I had chosen to have the Brand name drugs (in some instances) instead of the Generic drug - I said that I had not specified any specific makes and would be happy to have generic drugs - Only to be told that there were no generic options available - sounds like a big con by GESY to get more money out of the patients.
The other issue is that the chemist did not have all the medicines in stock and when checking the computer system - some of the items they could not order as the central warehouse has NO STOCK !!!!! - I was told they will contact me when they will be available with no indication as to when that may be.
I also asked the pharmacist what the situation was regarding the Diabetic Test Strips - she confirmed that they are not available on the system - so I asked if I could buy them over the counter - but was told that they are not available !! - Never had a problem getting them from the General !!

Overall totally unhappy - hope these are just teething problems and GESY wil get their act together .

Has anyone else encountered any of these issues ?

Ken

[trevnhil]

That is a very sad tale Ken, especially as my wife is diabetic and relies on the testing strip every day..
Fortunately she has just got some from the general Pharmacy, I hope things are sorted a little better by the time she needs some more..

[jeba]

Gey or no Gesy - I´ve repeatedly had to go to the North to get some medication. At least their prices have usually been reasonable.

[darrow]

As I understand it, prescriptions are still available at the General pharmacy for the time being, unless someone else knows different?

[clive of payia]

Sorry to hear your tale. They have obviously heard of the UK's NICE department.

[trevnhil]

As I understand it, prescriptions are still available at the General pharmacy for the time being, unless someone else knows different?

Prescriptions are still available if you still use the old system with your medical card.. I got some diabetic strips there last Wednesday.
But, as far as I know if you see a GP under the new Gesy system and get a prescription, the General Pharmacy will not be able to give out the tablets etc.. Again, unless others know different

[mike strand2]

Payment costs have a ceiling limit

From the GESY website:-

How much Can I pay?
Supplementary amounts such as € 1 per medication, €1.00 per laboratory test, €6.00 for a referral to
the Specialist Doctor, €10 per radiodiagnostic examination (eg CT scan, MRI), are added together.
When these amounts reach the annual ceiling of €75 (for children and young people up to 21 years,
EWC recipients or low pensioners) or €150 (for other beneficiaries), you will not be paying for the
remainder of the year.

[mike strand2]

Are consumables supplied within the GESY?

From the Gesy website:-

During the first phase of the GESY, the consumables for the control of diabetes are covered. These
supplies will be supplied by the pharmacies involved in the GESY.

I would presume this means test strips and any other 'consumable' required by the beneficiary (patient)

On a wider matter, whilst in the launch of GESY it's hooked-in many (including me) as it looks a very 'good deal', I fear though that the charges currently being made will quite quickly get raised when the government evaluates the true cost. In June 2020 the Insurance contribution will be doubled as GESY embraces more services. I fear it will, just like the UK NHS, become an exorbitantly expensive venture! Time will tell.

[WHL]

Gey or no Gesy - I´ve repeatedly had to go to the North to get some medication. At least their prices have usually been reasonable.

And run the risk, you could be getting counterfeit medication, No thanks.

[Tsadaken]

mike strand2 wrote:

Are consumables supplied within the GESY?

From the Gesy website:-

During the first phase of the GESY, the consumables for the control of diabetes are covered. These
supplies will be supplied by the pharmacies involved in the GESY.

I would presume this means test strips and any other 'consumable' required by the beneficiary (patient)

I also read this and have sent an email to GESY - don't hold your breath - but will post details of the reply when I get it.

In the meanwhile I have calculated the new cost of the 10 items on my prescription and based on the new charges these 10 items will cost me 315 Euros a year more than on the old Medical Card.

Plus when checking some items have now been removed from the prescription list and you have to buy them Over The Counter which will be more than the 50 cents per time - they didn't publicise these increased costs when launching GESY .

[kansas]

Re. medication purchased from the North.

We have occasionally bought medication when in Kyrenia. None of it was counterfeit. With very few exceptions it came from the UK, not too far west of London. Checked and verified.

[WHL]

Re. medication purchased from the North.

We have occasionally bought medication when in Kyrenia. None of it was counterfeit. With very few exceptions it came from the UK, not too far west of London. Checked and verified.

Here is a link to counterfeit drugs in the north, there are more on google.

https://cyprus-mail.com/2017/07/14/heal ... old-north/

[trevnhil]

I notice diabetic test strips are available from the hospital, of which I was unaware and have therefore been buying from eBay. Is the appropriate machine also available here on prescription?

Well it was under the old system ie the Medical card. Which is still valid until the end of August..

[trevnhil]

Tsadaken.. There is a maximum that you would pay for medications under the new Gesy system..
I don't know your age group but for pensioners I believe it is €75.. I believe that absolute maximum a patient can pay in a year is €150.

[bromerzz]

Trev
Yes I agree, my wife having submitted a prescription to a Pharmacy they added my wife to their list and followed this up with an email upon which it says the payment limit per year is €150.

[Tsadaken]

Trev & Bromerzz
Thanks for the comments about the maximum charge per annum - however as I understand it I have been charged an optional supplement on some medications (i.e where you as the patient opts for the branded drug instead of the generic drug). and this charge is not included in the capped amount. When I queried this at the pharmacy - I was told that there were no cheaper alternatives available for the drugs which carried the "optional supplementary fee". Also on further investigations most of the medications that I was being charged extra for - were not the Branded version - but they were the Generic version of the drug. My main gripe is why should I be charged an "optional supplement" when there is no cheaper alternative available
Ken

[trevnhil]

I can see from your last post why you are understandably so annoyed

[mike strand2]

Trev & Bromerzz
Thanks for the comments about the maximum charge per annum - however as I understand it I have been charged an optional supplement on some medications (i.e where you as the patient opts for the branded drug instead of the generic drug). and this charge is not included in the capped amount. When I queried this at the pharmacy - I was told that there were no cheaper alternatives available for the drugs which carried the "optional supplementary fee". Also on further investigations most of the medications that I was being charged extra for - were not the Branded version - but they were the Generic version of the drug. My main gripe is why should I be charged an "optional supplement" when there is no cheaper alternative available
Ken

I was with my PD & Pharmacist this morning. Some medications are not currently available in the country! The Dr confirmed that that some medication is not included in GESY whether free or by supplementary charge. It will only be available with a private prescription. This is also the case in the UK where NICE or the Trust have not made it available.

[trevnhil]

But there did not seem to be this general lack of availability Last Month, when items were 50 cents from the General Pharmacy

[mike strand2]

The Pharmacist also said that diabetic consumables & meter are not provided by them, but I need to go to the General H.