Brendan Burgess
Founder
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- 54,677
We don’t allow the discussion of medical issues on Askaboutmoney but we do allow the discussion of the financial aspects of healthcare.
I am not an expert on this topic, so please treat the following information with caution. Corrections are welcome. I have highlighted in red the areas where I would like further information.
Example from Conor Pope’s article in the Irish Times
Official name of drug: Omeprazole for ulcers.
Branded name: Losec – cost €840 per annum (€70 per month)
Generic name available in Ireland: Ulcid – cost €580 per annum
Generic name in Spain: Pensa – cost €42 per annum.
Note: Under Irish law, the maximum prescription is for 6 months. If you buy a generic drug abroad, you should check with your doctor if this is ok.
Ask your doctor to prescribe a generic drug instead of a branded drug
When a pharmaceutical company invents a new drug it charges a very high price for it. After its patent runs out, other companies can copy the drug. A generic drug will do exactly the same but will be much cheaper.
Your doctor will probably prescribe a branded drug.
Your pharmacist is not allowed to supply a generic substitute. In most other European countries, the pharmacist is obliged to supply a generic substitute.
Apparently, some pharmacists won't stock generic drugs
Ask you doctor to prescribe a generic drug instead. Some new drugs do not have generic drugs available.
Generic drugs are more expensive in Ireland than in other countries, so buy them abroad.
Generic drugs are much more expensive in Ireland due to Irish regulations, so check out the price abroad. Source: [broken link removed]
In Spain, pharmacies are allowed to substitute generic drugs for brand drugs so bring your prescription with you on holidays.
Buying your prescription medicine abroad
Are generic drugs just as good as branded drugs?
Yes. They are exactly the same. All generic drugs must be approved by the Irish Medicines Board and the European Medicines Agency
[broken link removed] is an American article on the VHI website
If there is no generic version of my prescription available, can I do anything?
Branded drugs should still be cheaper in Spain.
All Irish pharmacies tend to charge the same price, so there is no point in shopping around.
Which countries are the cheapest to buy drugs in?
Can I buy drugs cheaper in Northern Ireland?
What about buying drugs online from a reputable pharmacy in, say, the UK?
Responding to unsolicited emails is obviously dangerous.
Importing drughs is illegal but some sensible Askaboutmoney contributors seem to be doing this.
Can I come to an arrangement with a Spanish pharmacy to order drugs by mail order?
Can a friend get my prescription for me while they are holidaying in Spain?
While a pharmacist in Spain may fill a 3rd party prescription, the person carrying the medicines to Ireland may have the medicines confiscated, pending investigation by the Irish Medicines Board.
As they will not have the prescription (the pharmacist in Spain probably will) and as they are not the person named on the precription, and presumably not a pharmacist or doctor, having the medicines in their possession is legally questionable. (Source: mathepac)
My (elcato) experience recently was to go into the chemist for a friend's (prescribed drug) with the generic name and mg required and I did not need any prescription. I use some generics myself which I buy over the counter without prescription also. I also had no problem getting large quantities (Spain and Andorra).
Why is Spain in particular so cheap?
Which countries are actually more expensive than Ireland?
I am not an expert on this topic, so please treat the following information with caution. Corrections are welcome. I have highlighted in red the areas where I would like further information.
Example from Conor Pope’s article in the Irish Times
Official name of drug: Omeprazole for ulcers.
Branded name: Losec – cost €840 per annum (€70 per month)
Generic name available in Ireland: Ulcid – cost €580 per annum
Generic name in Spain: Pensa – cost €42 per annum.
Note: Under Irish law, the maximum prescription is for 6 months. If you buy a generic drug abroad, you should check with your doctor if this is ok.
Ask your doctor to prescribe a generic drug instead of a branded drug
When a pharmaceutical company invents a new drug it charges a very high price for it. After its patent runs out, other companies can copy the drug. A generic drug will do exactly the same but will be much cheaper.
Your doctor will probably prescribe a branded drug.
Your pharmacist is not allowed to supply a generic substitute. In most other European countries, the pharmacist is obliged to supply a generic substitute.
Apparently, some pharmacists won't stock generic drugs
Ask you doctor to prescribe a generic drug instead. Some new drugs do not have generic drugs available.
Generic drugs are more expensive in Ireland than in other countries, so buy them abroad.
Generic drugs are much more expensive in Ireland due to Irish regulations, so check out the price abroad. Source: [broken link removed]
In Spain, pharmacies are allowed to substitute generic drugs for brand drugs so bring your prescription with you on holidays.
Buying your prescription medicine abroad
Are generic drugs just as good as branded drugs?
Yes. They are exactly the same. All generic drugs must be approved by the Irish Medicines Board and the European Medicines Agency
[broken link removed] is an American article on the VHI website
If there is no generic version of my prescription available, can I do anything?
Branded drugs should still be cheaper in Spain.
All Irish pharmacies tend to charge the same price, so there is no point in shopping around.
Which countries are the cheapest to buy drugs in?
Can I buy drugs cheaper in Northern Ireland?
What about buying drugs online from a reputable pharmacy in, say, the UK?
Responding to unsolicited emails is obviously dangerous.
Importing drughs is illegal but some sensible Askaboutmoney contributors seem to be doing this.
Can I come to an arrangement with a Spanish pharmacy to order drugs by mail order?
Can a friend get my prescription for me while they are holidaying in Spain?
While a pharmacist in Spain may fill a 3rd party prescription, the person carrying the medicines to Ireland may have the medicines confiscated, pending investigation by the Irish Medicines Board.
As they will not have the prescription (the pharmacist in Spain probably will) and as they are not the person named on the precription, and presumably not a pharmacist or doctor, having the medicines in their possession is legally questionable. (Source: mathepac)
My (elcato) experience recently was to go into the chemist for a friend's (prescribed drug) with the generic name and mg required and I did not need any prescription. I use some generics myself which I buy over the counter without prescription also. I also had no problem getting large quantities (Spain and Andorra).
Why is Spain in particular so cheap?
Which countries are actually more expensive than Ireland?