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Pharmacy dispensing charge... did you know?
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run_Forrest_run wrote: »I also asked a particular Pharmacist chain about this and was told they have no say over how the dispensing fee is calculated. I was told the Pharmacy Union of Ireland controls this.
When I am not getting my inhalers (asthma) I get them all in one go so they only charge me one dispensing fee.
Welcome to the real world OP, I just hope you never end up having a few children who need medicines regularly (and aren't on the cosy medical card scheme that is)
I didn't know this charge existed either - and whether we have children or not (which I do) is irrelevant. So if we don't have kids we can be glad we won't be going to chemist as much? Typical Irish attitude, we should be campaigning for cheaper pharmacy costs in this Country. Also, a pharmacy won't dispense numerous months of the pill at once or most medications actually and now I understand why, they'll miss out on their fiver. It's not the same in every Country, you can get inhalers over the counter in Spain and at a fraction of the cost.
And to the last comment of "it's not a newsagents" - it's not much harder and if it takes €5 compensation per item for the pharmacist to dispense a packet of tablets then maybe they are working beyond their intelligence and skill sets and should start serving OK magazine instead, less taxing for the poor devils.
A newsagent cannot kill you a pharmacist potentially could hence the reason they are so highly paid. If it was so easy wouldn't everybody be doing it. Of course 90 per cent of the time they are just pulling boxes off shelves and giving them out but they are also responsible for spotting mistakes in doctors scripts. Talk to any pharmacy owners and most will readily admit they're creaming it however and I know I sound like a dick "don't hate the player hate the game." The same argument could be made about extortionate fees charged by all healthcare professionals and legal professionals .
Many pharmacists will give medical advice now and most pharmacies have consultation rooms where you can talk to your pharmacist in private. Use this service as it may save you a few bob in doctors fees and in a lot of cases may be able to give you something where a prescription is not needed. In cases where a pharmacist cannot diagnose you they will send you to the doctor anyway. There is no charge for this advice even if you do not end up buying anything and all you need to do is ask to speak to the pharmacist in private.0 -
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Well that strikes me with the same conceited air that I usually get when I go into a pharmacy. Ahh the whiff of self importance.partyatmygaff wrote: »You do realise that Pharmacists know more about drugs and pharmacotherapy than doctors right?
You're not a (defensive) pharmacist yourself by any chance? Although in specialist areas Junkies probably know more than either. :rolleyes:
That maybe but yet I was handed an off the shelf treatment for constipation when I asked for a treatment for diarrhea AND I made the point it was for a pregnant woman. You'd think that'd mean a little double checking of the attention to detail that you claim they're charging (/fleecing) people for.They're the experts on drugs and they know what's safe and what's not.
Well I didn't write "medicine". I very rarely buy pharmacutical medicines.I can't imagine a pharmacist trying to sell you another medicine alongside your prescription. As for what is obtainable and what isn't i'm not quite sure how you'd know about a particular medicine's stock levels.
Perhaps occasionally but I expect usually it's not much more. Mostly it's down to jacking up their own self importance like a taxi man pontificating about he's responsible for your physical safety when in the vehicle and then lecturing you on the health effects of drinking and loud noise before allowing you to disembark at the entrance of a night club. That's a bit harsh but it makes the point. It's an overwhelming sense of importance that's undue IMO.Probably because there's more to do than pick a box off a shelf and bag it
You wouldn't be in the game either?superblu wrote:Very well said.0 -
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Well that strikes me with the same conceited air that I usually get when I go into a pharmacy. Ahh the whiff of self importance. You're not a (defensive) pharmacist yourself by any chance? Although in specialist areas Junkies probably know more than either. :rolleyes:
That maybe but yet I was handed an off the shelf treatment for constipation when I asked for a treatment for diarrhea AND I made the point it was for a pregnant woman. You'd think that'd mean a little double checking of the attention to detail that you claim they're charging (/fleecing) people for.
Well I didn't write "medicine". I very rarely buy pharmacutical medicines.
Perhaps occasionally but I expect usually it's not much more. Mostly it's down to jacking up their own self importance like a taxi man pontificating about he's responsible for your physical safety when in the vehicle and then lecturing you on the health effects of drinking and loud noise before allowing you to disembark at the entrance of a night club. That's a bit harsh but it makes the point. It's an overwhelming sense of importance that's undue IMO.
You wouldn't be in the game either?
Typical response. Anybody that disagrees with you or points out the work that pharmacists do must be in the game right?:rolleyes:0 -
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I suppose you get the same "conceited air" with a "whiff of self importance" when you get in to a GP too, right?Well that strikes me with the same conceited air that I usually get when I go into a pharmacy. Ahh the whiff of self importance. You're not a (defensive) pharmacist yourself by any chance? Although in specialist areas Junkies probably know more than either. :rolleyes:
I love how you seemed to ignore the section of my last post that said that some bulk-forming laxatives (Psyllium, methylcellulose e.t.c.) can be used to treat diarrhea.That maybe but yet I was handed an off the shelf treatment for constipation when I asked for a treatment for diarrhea AND I made the point it was for a pregnant woman. You'd think that'd mean a little double checking of the attention to detail that you claim they're charging (/fleecing) people for.
For most straightforward cases, the GP usually just has to match up your symptoms to a suitable drug and dose as per the indications in the BNF/IMF/Mims. They also "lecture you on the health effects" of X, Y and Z as well yet you still don't begrudge them their fee. For simple cases, there's not a lot for either the GP or Pharmacist to do. For more complex cases, you'll be glad that there's more than one person in charge of your drug therapy.Perhaps occasionally but I expect usually it's not much more. Mostly it's down to jacking up their own self importance like a taxi man pontificating about he's responsible for your physical safety when in the vehicle and then lecturing you on the health effects of drinking and loud noise before allowing you to disembark at the entrance of a night club. That's a bit harsh but it makes the point. It's an overwhelming sense of importance that's undue IMO.
Which is a load of nonsense as you evidently don't have a clue what a Pharmacist does.No. I can see the work they do and the need for it. I do think though that the responsibility they hold or the difficulty of the job is exaggerated though.
Ancillary staff stock shelves, put things in bags and operate tills. They don't do the pharmacist's job.Which might explain why junior staff are often seen carrying out their work.
I'm pretty sure they do. Your GP does as well. But "exercise" isn't always as effective as a drug for a particular condition.If they were as clever and caring as they say they are they might promote exercise as a treatment for blood pressure or nutrition for depression (generally speaking) but no they fire chemicals over the counter and then argue that they're dead right about it.
Which is a load of nonsense.So where they might know a lot about the chemicals they're supplying they don't seem to know as much about patient care as they think they do.
The pharmacy's mark up (Which it doesn't have on many items dispensed) goes towards the cost of the item, its storage, the building costs e.t.c.Anyway I didn't intend this thread to be a slant on the work that they, taxi drivers or anyone else does. Just simply that the €5 charge got past me and many others for years and now that I know about it and have read the arguments for it here I still can't justify it.
The dispensing fee is the pharmacist's fee for reviewing and dispensing the prescription. It's not always particularly difficult but that doesn't mean it's not justifiable. Your GP probably doesn't find advising you to rest and relax in response to a viral infection to be very difficult either yet you seemingly don't begrudge them their fee.
Unless there's a particularly good reason, the maximum you'll get is a single month's supply at a time.trishasaffron wrote: »After reading this thread I'm still a bit confused as to how to manage the costs most effectively.
So I have blood pressure meds - if I get a few months together (no need for debate on how many months or how safe) will I pay just one dispensing fee rather than a dispensing fee per month?
That said, if you're paying more than €132 a month you can cap it at that with a DPS card. If not that, you can get a tax refund on all your prescriptions by asking for a MED1 form.0 -
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Ok this has digressed into a bit of a tit for tat so this is my last post on it.
First off it wasn't a rant, it was a genuine consumer alert about these charges since I was getting hit €15 x 6 for handing over 3 lousy packets of light meds. ~That's the point.
No, in one office I get a clear sense of a man that's over worked but doing his best in a working class community and supporting people (that struggle) on welfare. I use this guy because I know what's wrong with me going in and just need a prescription usually.partyatmygaff wrote: »I suppose you get the same "conceited air" with a "whiff of self importance" when you get in to a GP too, right?
In the second that mostly takes bookings only outside of emergencies that we use for my baby, it's a little more pretentious perhaps but the service is better, but no she doesn't act cocky in anyway and definately tries to be as thorough as possible, that's why we use her for my wife and baby.
You were talking without all the facts and I don't want to spend all day at this. The Pharmacist took back the box with "for constipation" written on it and gave me one with "for diarrhea" written on it without bull****ting an excuse other than "it's late on a fridaypartyatmygaff wrote: »I love how you seemed to ignore the section of my last post that said that some bulk-forming laxatives (Psyllium, methylcellulose e.t.c.) can be used to treat diarrhea.
". All the tech talk jargon is irrelevant. I'm an end user.
Who said that? The second Doc above has gotten a bit of a bashing from me more than once in these times of austerity since her overpriced fee of €50 for 15 minutes service. Especially when I have to visit a few times in a month as has happened and then I get lashed with meds costs.partyatmygaff wrote: »For most straightforward cases, the GP usually just has to match up your symptoms to a suitable drug and dose as per the indications in the BNF/IMF/Mims. They also "lecture you on the health effects" of X, Y and Z as well yet you still don't begrudge them their fee. For simple cases, there's not a lot for either the GP or Pharmacist to do. For more complex cases, you'll be glad that there's more than one person in charge of your drug therapy.
The first Doc you'd nearly tip him when you're flush coz he's so generous.
me no dumm dumm you dumm dumm, give me gum gum?Which is a load of nonsense as you evidently don't have a clue what a Pharmacist does.
And stop the highly trained but tired on a Friday pharmacist from handing over laxatives to people suffering from diahrrea. No you want to talk about not giving credit where credit is due?!Ancillary staff stock shelves, put things in bags and operate tills. They don't do the pharmacist's job.
I did put "generally speaking" because I know every case is individual.I'm pretty sure they do. Your GP does as well. But "exercise" isn't always as effective as a drug for a particular condition.
This is nonsense, apply Tesco to this logic, it's silly. That's a fiver for checking out sir.The pharmacy's mark up (Which it doesn't have on many items dispensed) goes towards the cost of the item, its storage, the building costs e.t.c.
Repeating yourself - yes I do, they charge too much in this economy.The dispensing fee is the pharmacist's fee for reviewing and dispensing the prescription. It's not always particularly difficult but that doesn't mean it's not justifiable. Your GP probably doesn't find advising you to rest and relax in response to a viral infection to be very difficult either yet you seemingly don't begrudge them their fee.
And they'll charge you multiple fivers each month. That's a particularly good reason not to.Unless there's a particularly good reason, the maximum you'll get is a single month's supply at a time.
Thanks, I'll look into that. Doesn't seem to be much other than taxes for regular working people.That said, if you're paying more than €132 a month you can cap it at that with a DPS card. If not that, you can get a tax refund on all your prescriptions by asking for a MED1 form.
Right that's it I'm done with this now.0 -
And what exactly do you get in your pharmacy?No, in one office I get a clear sense of a man that's over worked but doing his best in a working class community and supporting people (that struggle) on welfare. I use this guy because I know what's wrong with me going in and just need a prescription usually.
In the second that mostly takes bookings only outside of emergencies that we use for my baby, it's a little more pretentious perhaps but the service is better, but no she doesn't act cocky in anyway and definately tries to be as thorough as possible, that's why we use her for my wife and baby.
So an honest mistake by one person is enough to judge the entire profession?You were talking without all the facts and I don't want to spend all day at this. The Pharmacist took back the box with "for constipation" written on it and gave me one with "for diarrhea" written on it without bull****ting an excuse other than "it's late on a friday". All the tech talk jargon is irrelevant. I'm an end user.
To put it bluntly, it's not really a mistake that should have ever been made. It's not the ancillary staff member's job but they definitely did their bit there.And stop the highly trained but tired on a Friday pharmacist from handing over laxatives to people suffering from diahrrea. No you want to talk about not giving credit where credit is due?!
Tesco's staff sell anything and everything and more than likely don't know more than you do about any of their products. Comparing Tesco to a Pharmacy makes little to no sense.This is nonsense, apply Tesco to this logic, it's silly. That's a fiver for checking out sir.
In Tesco, you get goods. In a Pharmacy, you get goods and services. When you consider the function of both the comparison becomes even more ridiculous.
Yes, they will. As will your GP for repeat prescriptions. It's not unreasonable to expect payment for services.And they'll charge you multiple fivers each month. That's a particularly good reason not to.
The simple truth is that drugs are expensive. They cost a lot to design and may cost a lot to manufacture. No government (Particularly not ours) can afford the cost of paying for all medicines and all the services that surround them for everyone. For what it's worth, the community health schemes over here are generous compared to the rest of the world.Thanks, I'll look into that. Doesn't seem to be much other than taxes for regular working people.0 -
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