Customs enquiry

headpin

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Who says its being subsidised?

For my wifes monthly medication on private prescription £4.20, on NHS prescription £7.85, controlled medication so cannot be bought without prescription. Certainly no subsidisation going on there, quite the opposite.

When we used to see our family who live overseas she always used to buy antibiotics (which are available over the counter) as they are less than half the price of the UK prescription fee.

You may have defeated your own argument. Many drugs are cheaper overseas as the more affluent countries subsidise them through what they pay so that they can be made available more cheaply in countries where they would otherwise not be able to afford them.

On the OP situation I cannot understand why someone who is in Barbados for 6+ months should need their drugs supplied under the NHS, regardless of what they may cost. If you are abroad for that length of time it suggests that it is more than just a holiday and that a local doctor and medication should be sought where required.

shaun_from_Africa

I'm currently working in Trinidad and if the pharmacies in Barbados are anything like here, there will be very few drugs that can't be bought without needing a prescription.

Just about all pain medication, antibiotics, anti inflamatories etc can be obtained simply by asking for them and for things like tranqualisers and sleeping tablets, an empty bottle from a previous prescription will usually get you what you need.

Cathy, if you scan and e-mail the prescription to your sister, she may well find that it will be more than enough to get the medication from a local pharmacy.
If you do decide to send the medication, you might be better off using a courier company such as DHL/UPS etc.
Most of the Caribbean Islands have a big drug problem and sending stuff through the post may well end up with it being seized and destroyed irrespective of it being pretty harmless stuff.
A courier company will ship it and clear it through customs at its destination.

cathy36

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

I'm currently working in Trinidad and if the pharmacies in Barbados are anything like here, there will be very few drugs that can't be bought without needing a prescription.

Just about all pain medication, antibiotics, anti inflamatories etc can be obtained simply by asking for them and for things like tranqualisers and sleeping tablets, an empty bottle from a previous prescription will usually get you what you need.

Cathy, if you scan and e-mail the prescription to your sister, she may well find that it will be more than enough to get the medication from a local pharmacy.
If you do decide to send the medication, you might be better off using a courier company such as DHL/UPS etc.
Most of the Caribbean Islands have a big drug problem and sending stuff through the post may well end up with it being seized and destroyed irrespective of it being pretty harmless stuff.
A courier company will ship it and clear it through customs at its destination.

Thanks. I will scan and email as you said. I'm not going to send any medication abroad as there are a lot of high risks attached to this. I really appreciate your sensible advice (unlike some on here).:D

cathy36

headpin wrote: »

You may have defeated your own argument. Many drugs are cheaper overseas as the more affluent countries subsidise them through what they pay so that they can be made available more cheaply in countries where they would otherwise not be able to afford them.

On the OP situation I cannot understand why someone who is in Barbados for 6+ months should need their drugs supplied under the NHS, regardless of what they may cost. If you are abroad for that length of time it suggests that it is more than just a holiday and that a local doctor and medication should be sought where required.

Actually it is a holiday something that she has worked hard for, taking on 3 jobs for the last couple of years and yes paying tax. I don't know why you have to be so defensive and talk like this.
It was something that she asked me as she wasn't sure how she was going to get her medication whilst she was away, there was no conning/ripping people off intended just concerned. Now that I have a positive and sensible advice from others on here, I will do as they have recommended and advise her accordingly. (_/_)

martindow

The GP should not prescribe repeat prescriptions for anyone abroad over three months, on holiday, living or travelling. Look at the second section here

http://www.plymouthformulary.nhs.uk/Travelling-or-extended-stays-abroad/

InsideInsurance

headpin wrote: »

You may have defeated your own argument. Many drugs are cheaper overseas as the more affluent countries subsidise them through what they pay so that they can be made available more cheaply in countries where they would otherwise not be able to afford them.

I'm not going to pretend to understand the flow of monies between pharmacies, NHS, Primary Trusts, GPs etc etc but in my simplistic world, I pay £7+ for something that only costs £5 then it is I that is doing the funding not the NHS.

Yes the fact that £5 has been paid for it where as another place its sold for £4 does happen but that is irrelevant to this circumstances because in this example the "customer" has overpaid/ more than reimbursed the cost of the drug through the prescription charge.

Now with no idea of what the drug is there is no way to say one way or the other if it exceeded the prescription charge but you cannot automatically say that the NHS/ State has funded anything

cathy36

martindow wrote: »

The GP should not prescribe repeat prescriptions for anyone abroad over three months, on holiday, living or travelling. Look at the second section here

http://www.plymouthformulary.nhs.uk/Travelling-or-extended-stays-abroad/

Thanks for that. She wasn't told this by her gp before she went away. I will copy this to her in a email, it makes sense. Thanks again.:beer: