Should cost determine the treatment given for a condtion.

[classic33]

I'm asking because prescribed medication, for epilepsy, is being withheld denied on the grounds of the cost to the company.

In this case a chemist. They wish to provide a cheaper alternative which means getting the prescribed medication changed. Normally done with regular blood tests & checks with the doctor that things are ok.

This time the cost, to the chemist, is the deciding factor in what I'll be taking. Not the opinion of doctors & specialists over the years I've been taking it.

 

[Drago]

Use a different dispensary.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Can you try another chemist for your prescription?
I would tell them where to go btw
Edit: beaten by Drago!

 

[Fnaar]

Yes, use a different pharmacy. Or ask your GP where to get it.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

What? I thought the whole point of chemists was that they sold extremely expensive drugs for almost no money then got the difference made up by the NHS?

A friend's dad sold his tiny chemist shop for £1.5m. People with almost no money come in and walk out with drugs with a value of up to fifty quid per pill, the Chemists have found a way to sell extremely high value goods with almost no need to make any sales effort at all.

I can't get my head around a chemist trying to give you cheaper meds, it's not his money he's being tight with!

 

[classic33]

Unable to change the pharmacy for two reasons.
1. They have provided one of two items on the prescription, in full, & will not accept them back.
2. They will not return the prescription to allow me to try & get the second item elsewhere.

As for using them them, this will be the last time I get anything there. Its not as though I'm able to change the medication, as its for a lifelong condition, and any changes must be made under supervisision of a doctor over a period of time. The last bit for safety, mine & theirs I've always assumed.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

But... But... The pharmacy don't pay for your drugs, they're not a charity!

The breast cancer drug herceptin (sp?) costs about £30 per tablet and yet a bottle full can be gotten for the price of a standard prescription. The pharmacy does not make up the difference, it would be the worst business model ever!

Something stinks here.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Read this www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/pharmacists/Pages/pharmacistsandchemists.aspx

Extract:

"

Any complaint regarding a pharmacist, pharmacy technician or the owner of a pharmacy should be made in writing to the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can raise a concern by completing the online complaints form (PDF, 121 kb) and returning it to the General Pharmaceutical Council either by email at concerns@pharmacyregulation.org or by post at:
Raising a concern
GPhC
129 Lambeth Road
LONDON
SE1 7BJ
Phone: 020 3365 3603
Find out more about how to complain in our NHS complaints section."

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

Some of our patients are on really expensive medication that their GP refuses to prescribe or that the local trust refuses to fund due to costs and they have to have it prescribed via the hospital instead. I hate that money and budgets are put before health.

Can you get your consultant to speak to the pharmacist or have it dispensed by the hospital pharmacy instead?

 

[vernon]

Read this www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/pharmacists/Pages/pharmacistsandchemists.aspx

Extract:

"

Any complaint regarding a pharmacist, pharmacy technician or the owner of a pharmacy should be made in writing to the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can raise a concern by completing the online complaints form (PDF, 121 kb) and returning it to the General Pharmaceutical Council either by email at concerns@pharmacyregulation.org or by post at:
Raising a concern
GPhC
129 Lambeth Road
LONDON
SE1 7BJ
Phone: 020 3365 3603
Find out more about how to complain in our NHS complaints section."

That's all well and good but it isn't going to deliver and instant solution to the immediate problem.

 

[classic33]

Read this www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/pharmacists/Pages/pharmacistsandchemists.aspx

Extract:

"

Any complaint regarding a pharmacist, pharmacy technician or the owner of a pharmacy should be made in writing to the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can raise a concern by completing the online complaints form (PDF, 121 kb) and returning it to the General Pharmaceutical Council either by email at concerns@pharmacyregulation.org or by post at:
Raising a concern
GPhC
129 Lambeth Road
LONDON
SE1 7BJ
Phone: 020 3365 3603
Find out more about how to complain in our NHS complaints section."

Thanks for that, I'll try it.
The really annoying thing is I even asked before handing it over, if both items could be got at the same time. I've had trouble in the past with getting the other item, that was supplied in full, at the same time as the one they now seek to change to a cheaper one.

 

[classic33]

Some of our patients are on really expensive medication that their GP refuses to prescribe or that the local trust refuses to fund due to costs and they have to have it prescribed via the hospital instead. I hate that money and budgets are put before health.

Can you get your consultant to speak to the pharmacist or have it dispensed by the hospital pharmacy instead?

Its already been prescribed, my doctor has no issues in precribing it, that I'm aware off. I'm also under a specialist who has no problems prescribing it.

The second point raised is harder to answer & understand. They are trying to get my doctor to precribe the cheaper alternative.

I'd love to be able to be able to say to my doctor that I don't require any further prescriptions, but that day will never come. I accepted that years ago, as far as I'm concerned its a lifelong condtion being treated.

 

[The Brewer]

Which medication is it. I worked with one gent that swore Epilim worked better than generic sodium valporate

 

[ufkacbln]

The other way forward is more complex

Some "generic' medicines are identical, if you buy Paracetamol then it will be as effective whether you buy a formal brand, or Tesco's own

Some other drugs however do vary between brands

Some drugs such as those for Asthma or Angina are actually prescribed by a specific brand name for this reason

Epilepsy drugs are not as simple in that this is not a requirement, but there can be differnces.

There is an explanation with reference to Epilepsy from the Epilepsy Society

As they state:

What can I do if my pharmacist gives me a different version of my drug to my usual one?

If your doctor writes the generic name of the AED on your prescription, a pharmacist can give you any drug with that generic name. This means that you might get a different version with each prescription. If your doctor writes the brand name of the AED on your prescription, or the name of the specific drug company, a pharmacist should give you that specific version of AED.
It can be helpful to go to the same pharmacist for each prescription as they may keep a record of your AEDs and make sure that you get the same version each time. It can also be helpful to check your AEDs while you are still at the counter. If you are given a different version to what you normally take, the pharmacist can check whether it is the right AED and, if needed, they might be able to change it for you.
If you have any concerns about this, you could talk to your doctor or neurologist.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

That's all well and good but it isn't going to deliver and instant solution to the immediate problem.

Not at all; I guess my verve for finding a effective solution that might swiftly help at 8pm on a Thursday night was somewhat dented by my bewilderment at a pharmacist trying to sell a cheaper alternative drug so he / she / they make less money.

Issues like this equally craze and bewilder me. If I knew the OP personally I'd be donning the verbal battle armour and preparing to do Vogon bureaucratic battle about now.