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Zoffiel's avatar
Zoffiel
Member
9 years ago

The great pharmaceutical rip-off

Since I'm not working I've subjected myself to a variety of austerity measures. It sucks. What sucks even more is getting taken to the cleaners when filling scripts. I don't get any concessions and am not eligible. Previously, I just went to the most convenient chemist. Not any more. In the last months I've had to spend a small fortune. I've found out:
  • Targin $38.50 at Amcal. $29.20 Chemist warehouse
  • Endone $18.50 Guardian, $8.70 C.W
  • Betamethsone Cream $38.50 at Guardian $15.00 at Terry White
  • Anything at a public hospital pharmacy is FULL PBS price. This cost me an extra $47.00 per post chemo script before I woke up to what was going on.  
Now, none of this is illegal. The hospitals are hobbled by legislation and I can understand smaller pharmacies not being able to compete with the warehouses, but more than double the price? Really? I don't give a damn about being given dirty looks when I ask what I'm going to be charged now. Oddly, the sniffiness seems to come from the most expensive chemists.

There have been too many examples for me to list them. The warehouses aren't always that much cheaper on some drugs and prices vary store to store even within the same chain.

Anyway, if you don't care what you are going to pay just hand the paper over. If you do care, ask. I'll guess I've saved $200-$300 in the last couple of months by shopping around. Apparently this isn't as big a problem for concession holders.

Marg.



4 Replies

  • Hulos's avatar
    Hulos
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi Zoffiel, yes i know what you mean,  but at least I have goddies to shw for it,  and they are usually home necessities that won't go off etc...I guess they are like supermarkets and more.

  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    9 years ago
    Ha, @Hulos, the picking up of extra bits and pieces is the reason I send my partner in if he is around and stay in the car :) Otherwise I take in just enough cash so I don't end up with all manner of stuff I didn't know I needed.
  • Hulos's avatar
    Hulos
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi, i agree and that is why i refuse  to get a script  at any other chemist.
     I  only go to c/warehouse and also pickup any other needed  specials. I rather have the money in my pocket as I really  need to, and not theirs. 
    You would think that given the circumstance that we would be charged at a lower cost ie like pensioners are.  I guess that will never happen. :(:(
    I am a thrifty shopper and wouldn't have it any other way for my hard earned money. 
  • Cassina's avatar
    Cassina
    Member
    9 years ago
    Zoffiel, I agree, my neighbour is a local chemist and scripts are about $16 more that CW, and this adds up. I too experienced the private hospital pharmacy $75 for endone ( not used, Voltarin 1 tablet and Targin ) I was caught but now aware, and although it seems a small amount it adds up for those like us who need more. I have found the hospital dispensed with no charge for Maxolon? maybe they forgot and some hospitals charge for chemo and Hercepton about $40 however the cost for that medication to the hospital is $60,000 so worth having, You really have to shop around