Job Discussion Forums

Mangy · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

I need meds for my asthma. What is the process, and the cost, of getting prescriptions written and filled.

Thank you.

James

Pauleddy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 295 Location: The Big Mango

If you are working and paying national insurance to yr company, or if u r autonomo (self-employed), you are in the public scheme, although you will have to present your NIE number at sometime.

If u r an EEC citizen but unemployed, you can go the the unemployment office and sign up. Spain has agreements with other states. U can then get to see a public doctor.

If you an EEC citizen on holiday, or from an agreement country, you can attend any ER in an emergency.

If you are a Yank or Canuck, there may be more problems. I don't think that you can see public doctors. But, like everywhere, there are private docs who will see you for 50e-ish. There are also low-end private subscription clinics---u pay 15e a month via bank debit and you can see a doctor when u like. They also have ambulances. There are also high end versions.and Normal private health ins, like BUPA, is also common in Spain.

Spanish pharmacies will sell you SOME meds which you may need prescriptions for in some places. when I am in spain, I always buy my cholesterol pills, and a kind of sleeping pill, without probs. In the UK, thses wd need a Dr letter or same. Check.

P

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

Why yer takes yer empty pill bottle in to the pharmacy and asks the nice lady for a refill. You ought to be able to get anything you need.

If you do have to get a medical consult it's no big problem. You go see the MD and talk it over with him. He will be a whole lot cheaper than a US doc. I've seen Spanish docs a couple of times while I was walking the Camino. They saw me for freebies because I was a pilgrim, even though I offered to pay. I'm not sure what they would charge a civilian, but I saw a lung guy in Nimes for $20 so it probably is about that. It was $75 for the antibiotic to treat the bronchitis.

About being an American or Canadian, the public docs will see you, but they will probably expect payment. I went to the public clinic in Astorga I was, as I say, on the Camino, but I'm pretty sure they would have either seen me or pointed me to somebody who would if I was a civilian.