Is this some sort of scam

Linda32

aitch2oh wrote: »

The pharmacy will make no more profit out of me.

But why not? They have too, to pay rent, wages, electricity to light the shop. Every business has to make a profit.

trailingspouse

Could it be that the shelf life is 2 years but once opened will only last 2 months?

Like boxes of orange juice - you can keep them for ages but once opened they need to be used within 3 days.

gregc

There probably is an argument here that the NHS is losing out if it is paying for a medication that is supplied with a short expiry date, and would expire before it has been used - more notably with a medication that is only used when required.

The NHS tariff price for this drug is £6.92, so that's how much they pay each time. In reality, the profit the pharmacy makes on that is likely pretty thin. Although they do get benefit from each prescription, I think it is very unlikely that there is any sort of intent or proactive scam involved, there wouldn't be much point. They would of course want to get rid of short life stock first, or they would be stuck having paid for medicines that have expired. But if there is no restriction on dates, then they would of course do that. Their hope is that less medication goes to waste. Maybe they haven't managed their stock well, but more likely they purchase in a bulk that is close to how much they shift over time. I would imagine it is more likely to happen in a smaller local pharmacy than a larger one, but certainly no guarantees over that. It's similar to how a tiny corner shop is more likely to have overripe bananas than a tesco extra, just a fact, no scam involved. It may be that their stock in 2 months time all has 2 years on it. In a few days time the corner shop will have fresh green bananas in too.

They are a business just like any other, and I guess it's worth considering that it is a useful service to the community. So if they can't keep in business, we lose the service locally which we may miss when it's gone.



I would suggest that it's not a great plan to advise that medications are probably usable beyond the date, without specific knowledge. Many will be, but some (probably all) become less effective over time, and some may drop quite rapidly below a useful threshold after the use by date.

aitch2oh

I am entitled to free prescriptions due to age.


The scam is that if a manufacturer sells stuff to a shop that is near the sell by date then the consumer has to buy more frequently. Most people are now very good at checking sell by dates on food products.


If my prescription is given to me near the sell by date then this means I have to repeatedly get a new prescription from my GP. This makes it look as though I am more ill then I am which is dangerous. It is also inconvenient for me to have to go through this over and over again.


I get through only one prescription of Bricanyl a year. If I have to go back every two months it si costing the NHS 6 times as much as it needs to.


If I had to pay for my prescriptions I think I would "tick the box" rather than pay 6 times a year when I really only need to pay once.


I am going to write to my MP about this.


As for pharmacies closing down maybe it is because they keep giving people short term prescriptions!!! So people take their custom elsewhere. It is what I will do.

surveyqueenuk

aitch2oh wrote: »

As for pharmacies closing down maybe it is because they keep giving people short term prescriptions!!! So people take their custom elsewhere. It is what I will do.

Don't get your knickers in a twist. All pharmacies are bound by a 28 day policy, meaning they can only dispense 28 days worth of medication at a time. Everybody gets short-term prescriptions.

Plus, it doesn't really matter which pharmacy you use, they'll ALL be making 75p.

Robin9

In my post 7 I asked where you are going to get your prescriptions from if you boycott pharmacies.

Gingernutty

Manufacturers make the drugs and it goes to secure wholesalers who passi it on to pharmacies.

Unfortunately, certain pharmacies can sell the drugs, legally, overseas for profit and they do frequently.

Supply and demand is such that a complex circuit of buyers and sellers can create a merry-go-round which the drugs travel on.

It becomes profitable to sell branded drugs abroad and buy identical, cheaper, foreign generics back.

Shelf lives can be missed and in cases like yours OP, it means you end up with a short dated package.

LadyDee

Why don't you just ask the pharmacist nicely next time you get a prescription filled if they would please ensure the drug has a long life left?

wondercollie

You do realize that the drug doesn't self destruct on the use by date? Effectiveness may decrease after a lengthy period but you'd be fine with it for about six months.

Wanna talk about an epi-pen with a six month date? It still worked when used four months out of date. With the price hike on that particular item, people can't afford to waste them.

Robin9

aitch2oh wrote: »

I get through only one prescription of Bricanyl a year. If I have to go back every two months it si costing the NHS 6 times as much as it needs to.

I am going to write to my MP about this.

.

OP you are making a mountain out of a molehill. Put this in perspective. How long have you been taking this particular inhaler ? How many times have you found one with an expiry date of 2 months.?