Refilling Prescription at US Pharmacy
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.
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| 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.
