They do things differently there.

[diogenes]

I attended one of the meetings (in Leeds) regarding consultation of decisions by the NHS to withdraw or reduce the use of certain drugs and other medicines. The absurdity of the UK apparently being unable to import much cheaper alternatives was recognised even by the coordinators of the meeting, but they had no solutions. However, the situation in Germany for example is different. Prof Hoermann wrote:

In Germany, it used to be possible, think still is, to re-import from another EU country like Spain or Italy, which was sometimes cheaper. Many patients bought Italian Euthyrox still same product from the same German manufacturer Merck but at a cheaper import price. Little savings as the German price was never that outrageous, but still appreciated by some.

We are still in the EU. Other EU countries have no licensing difficulty in crossborder importing of medicines, so why does the UK differ? If the procurement division of the NHS was private, the P45's of the incompetents would have stretched into the distant horizon.

[helvella]

Even the document posted the other day by Pamela0106 about doctors being paid to keep us ill, and arguing for savings by switching to levothyroxine, admits:

• Price comparison – Drug Tariff February 2016 and Product Cost per 28 tablets

Levothyroxine 25 microgram tablets £2.69

Levothyroxine 50 microgram tablets £1.84

Levothyroxine 100 microgram tablets £1.85

Liothyronine 20 microgram tablets £198.62

Other brands without a UK license (‘specials’) £41 to £337 based on average cost per item (ePACT)

See thread: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

So they could make a saving of about four fifths of their cost by going for unlicensed (in the UK) products.

[Pamela0106 in reply to helvella]

100% ... so so true! X

[JGBH]

Thank you again for an excellent article Diogenes!

How can I find out whether Biotene (used for moisturising mouth by patients who have Sjogren's) is still allowed to be prescribed by GP? I had it for years and my GP told me recently she could not prescribe it anymore.... but that the dentist could still do so. Not sure I trust the GP... So where could I check this, please?

[helvella in reply to JGBH]

You could have a look at the British National Formulary:

bnf.nice.org.uk/#Search?q=b...

Seems madness if you need to have a dental appointment (of some sort) to get a prescription. Doesn't that just add to the cost?

[JGBH in reply to helvella]

Thanks helvella. Will check as don’ believe gp!

[Nanaedake in reply to JGBH]

It may be your CCGs prescribing policy so check that too.