Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Refilling Prescription at Pharmacy in US

Refilling Prescription at US Pharmacy

  A comparative study reveals that except a few alleged ' malpractices' , Indian medical system is the cheapest in the world, very well tailored to suit the huge populace

 By Mukesh Sharma

 In US, where medicines are not sold by it’s ‘brand’ name but by generic names only and further, it is not sold over-the-counter, one can’t buy the medicines duly prescribed even by a bonafide doctor other than US. Strictly controlled by FDA (Food and Drugs Administration, US) refilling a prescription at a pharmacy is not that simple, particularly, for foreign visitors.

A visitor in US can bring not more than 90 days supply of medication. If one stays longer than that or runs out of his/her essential medicines, one can’t buy the medicines directly from pharmacy in US even on the basis of prescription given by his/her doctor in one’s country. One will have to consult an American doctor who would examine his medical conditions in the light of the given prescription, and if the report is to his (doctor) satisfaction, the doctor may prescribe the substitute of the same medicine prescribed by the doctor of the patient in his/her country.

What is noteworthy, medicines are not sold by any ‘brand’ name, doctors write down only generic names and the prescription is sent directly to the pharmacy closest to the residence of the patient. Further, medicines are not given in combination - a usual practice in India, here medicines are given severally. If one is taking a medicine under some brand name in India which is a combination of two or more than two medicines, separate medicine would be given for each ingredient with attached detailed information about the medicines  -  ingredients name, common uses, before using the medicines, how to use medicines, caution, possible side effects, overdose and additional information.

Being on medication for High BP and Sugar, this blogger has also had first-hand experience in US related to refilling the prescription (in America buying medicine against a prescription is called refiling). This interesting information will give the readers some idea about the medical system prevalent in US. Look at the pics of medicines available in India under a brand name and the same given by US pharmacy under generic name followed by a leaflet of ‘prescription information’ about each medicine.

 

Pics of Indian medicines and US medicines

A comparative study reveals that except a few alleged ‘malpractices', Indian medical system is the cheapest in the world, very well-tailored to suit the populace of different strata, and well within the reach of the poorest of the poor. In India, the system has been ‘designed’ in such a way that for VIPs and well off it is on par with the best of the West; for middle class, it is good through cashless medical insurance; for the poor, it is free through government hospitals (khairati aspatal), of course, where treatment and recovery depend more on the luck line of the patient than the medical facilities. However, in US the system is uniform; it makes no distinction between poor and rich. Everyone has SSN (Social Security Number) and a mandatory health insurance that meets the most of medical expenses of the insured. But for the people who don’t have health insurance for any reason and are aliens (foreigners), American medical system is the most expensive in the world.

     


4 comments:

  1. Yes indian pharmacy is competitive and cost effective

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  2. Though healthcare system of India is cost effective as compared to USA but the situation is quite grim in India. At one side the colossus healthcare sector of USA stands at around 3 trillion dollars and serving just 35 million people where as the size of healthcare system of India is just around 65 dollars serving 1.3 billion people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am on medication for BP and Sugar for 15 years and I have been taking two medicines as prescribed by my doc in India. However, these medicine just maintain my BP and Sugar always at tolerably Higher side but never bring it to normal.

      I purchased the same medicines from US pharmacy and took it after breakfast as usual in the morning for first time today. After three hours, I felt some queer laziness. I checked the BP and Sugar. To my utter surprise, it was normal. It never happened in the last 15 years with the same medicines purchased from chemists in India. Can you believe? Now I think even big branded companies are not selling within the steep what they claim. I smell a corruption at unimaginable scale. Unsuspecting populace is being cheated.
      We must now do something against the companies minting money in India.

      Delete

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