We have a big problem here with scripts costing less than the cutoff
($NZ15 or UKP5) for 'ordinary' people (non-community cardholders and their
families).
Many (if not all pharmacists) have been charging a professional premium up
to the $NZ15 limit even if it is $NZ3.00 worth of pseudoephedrine or
bendrofluazide. Patients are not being informed they are paying for this
perceived professional "service".
Many pharmacists here tell the patients there are no scripts under $15.00
if they don't have a card. Our system is so complex that patients and
doctors cannot understand it. Most doctors would probably not know the
costs of ultra-cheap drugs such as paracetamol, thiazides, pseudoephedrine
etc.
Prescription charges here are often the interface of the public with our
health reforms, and thus have not gone down too well with the public who
now just pay their money when asked. The Government here has been naieve to
the point of being about to lose it the election. They can't say doctors
haven't been warning them. They kept telling us to pull our heads in and
stop complaining.
Indeed it could almost bring a smile to your face, if our new Banana
Republic wasn't about to be Governed by a coalition after next week.
Elections (yawn...) next Saturday.
Jon Wilcox
Auckland
Dr Jon Wilcox
Glenfield Medical Centre
452 Glenfield Road
Glenfield, Auckland 10
New Zealand
Fax and Phone +649-444-7656
Mobile +6425-957-443
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