Any experience of getting asthma inhaler in France?

msmicawber

Hi,

I'm hoping someone has experience of doing this. I've been contacted by a young person on holiday in France who's inhaler has run out. When they went to a pharmacy with their EHIC card, they were told that a replacement inhaler would cost 300 euros, which they don't have. I believe that if they go to a hospital with their card and the empty inhaler, they should get a replacement without charge, but don't know why I think that and want to know what the situation is.

I'm quite worried, so would appreciate any information that I can pass to them.

jeannieblue

I don't know....

But my rambling on a bit may bump up the thread

I did buy HRT patches in Portugal from a chemist without a prescription -but I did show them my empty box.

Here's hoping the 'bumping' has helped.

Good luck x

cafecreme

I lived in France for a while, and when I needed an inhaler I went to a GP (medicin generaliste), a non-private one (I think the term is 'conventionne', with an accent on the last e) for a prescription. I would advise going to tourist info and asking for an english speaking doctor who is non-private and will accept the EHIC. You will have to pay 10 euros for the doctor's visit, and probably the prescription charge as well, which will be the actual price of the inhaler to the health service, so probably roughly 10 euros, but it will avoid you paying private prices, which is what the hundreds of euros price would be. That's all the EHIC gives you, unfortunatley, as I found when I needed to go to the doctor on holiday in Germany recently... I'm sure going to the hospital would probably work as well.

Hope they get it sorted!

msmicawber

Thank you very much for that. I've been very anxious as he's in the middle of nowhere and the only GP & pharmacy are both private. The nearest hospital is about 60Km away, but he was going there this morning, so I'm hoping he'll ring me soon and let me know that all is well.

Thank you again.

autumnstar

Can't help you re: France but I have asthma and managed to leave my Salbutimol at home when I went away to Greece earlier this year. I was able to buy it over the counter in a pharmacy for 3 euros! I was also able to get Rozex gel from my Rosacea over the counter there too - identical product and that was around the 3 euros mark too.

pariskate

AFAIK, based on having lived in France for several years, unless you are part of the french "securite sociale" system and have a readable chipped card or a declaration of cover from the secu, then it is absolutely the norm to go to the Doctor/Pharmacy and pay the full price for your prescription/consultation. The costs are then reimbursed by your medical insurance policy (either a french one called a mutuelle or your UK one). The doctor gives you a piece of paper called a feuille de soins, the same for the pharmacist and you send them off to the relevant insurance.

I am astonished that he has been quoted 300€ as drugs are generally a lot cheaper in france than elsewhere. I don't think that pharmacies can be classed as 'private' as such and they can only dispense 'serious' drugs with a prescription - the prescription may be marked 'non-rembourse' which means the doctor is not covered I think and would only cover certain categories of drugs.
Reciprocal health care between EU nations only covers emergency health care which the inhaler could be classed as if your friend had an attack and landed up in hospital. Even there, it is not neccesarily free at the point of service - I have to pay up front and get re-imbursed when I take my child to a french hospital for treatment (and we are in the system!).

Good luck, it is a horribly complicated way of administering healthcare (even if that health care is top - notch!)

flower_72

Did he take travel insurance with medical cover? Maybe a good idea to ring them? He may have to pay but at least he'll get reimbursed.
Otherwise as someone else said the EHIC is used for emergency medical assistance. And then again you'll have to pay something (as french people do) and wait to be reimbursed.
The ins and outs of French bureaucracy are amazing.
His best bet is to go to a tourist office and speak to an english speaker. They might be able to direct him somewhere where he would be explained exactly what to do.
Hope you get him sorted quickly

msmicawber

Thanks to all who have posted advice. He's home now and has seen a doctor. In the end it was easier to get to the airport than to get to the hospital and he wasn't enjoying his holiday much as he felt so ill, so decided to come home. I'm glad really as I was getting very worried that his anxiety was exacerbating his symptoms.