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missieUAE
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
Posts: 23
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 Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:41 am Post subject: Prescription Medication |
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Can anyone tell me about the availability of prescription medications in the UAE? In major cities, are they easier/harder to get, cheaper/more expensive, than the USA? I realize this varies based on the medication, but in general, what have been your experiences?
I'd also be interested to learn about medical care in the UAE in general--what it's like, how much it costs, the range of available services and specialists as compared to the US or Europe, etc. |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:14 am Post subject: |
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| There have been several threads on these topics. The information is still relevant. Try doing a search. |
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missieUAE
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:19 am Post subject: |
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I guess you're the welcome committee.  |
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missieUAE
Joined: 15 Feb 2009
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:30 am Post subject: |
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My search returned eight pages of threads, most of them not on the UAE forum, and while I didn't look through all of them in depth, I didn't see anything just like my post at all.
So, my original questions still stand, if anyone wants to offer advice instead of giving me a not-so-polite brush-off. |
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helenl
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Posts: 1202
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:37 am Post subject: |
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http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=60994&highlight=prescription
Here's the most relevant thread. I typed in prescription as the search word and limited it to UAE forum. This is not meanst to be mean, but just as an FYI on what I did - the thread is not exactly what you asked but it does have a lot of relevant information and I sincerely hope it helps answer some of your questions.
I regret you took my post as both impolite and a brush off, it was not intentional - hope the rest of your "stay" on the boards is more to your liking. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:17 am Post subject: |
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I can add that you will find that common medications will normally be a fraction of what they would be in the US. For one of my medications, a year in the US cost $300, while in the Gulf, it cost about $20... and they were made in the same factory - same bottles. New, exotic medications will be closer in price in the Gulf, but if they have it, it will be cheaper. Once you know where you will be living, you can try to find out about specific meds if necessary.
I was in Abu Dhabi and have absolutely no complaints about the medical care, but much depends on your employer and their coverage. Again, comparing prices, what I paid there for the total bills was usually closer to the co-pay in the US.
But... the answers depend completely on where you will be living and who your employer is.
VS |
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hamergirl
Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:15 am Post subject: |
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| Medical costs have gone up significantly since VS left. Some procedures (for example a sonogram) have doubled in price making them similar to what you would pay in the US. Prescriptions have gone up as well. This is because of a recent change in the law requiring employers to provide health insurance. Make sure your employer's plan is comprehensive. |
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mishmumkin
Joined: 01 Sep 2007
Posts: 929
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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| hamergirl wrote: |
| Medical costs have gone up significantly since VS left. Some procedures (for example a sonogram) have doubled in price making them similar to what you would pay in the US. Prescriptions have gone up as well. This is because of a recent change in the law requiring employers to provide health insurance. Make sure your employer's plan is comprehensive. |
I lived in the UAE when Veiled Sentiments was here, and I'm back here again since August of 2008. I can't say I notice the increase in medical care costs simply because like most teachers w/ decent medical we are not picking up the costs. Prescriptions costs have increased marginally since 1998 when I first arrived in the UAE, but no more than anywhere else in the world. While ibuprofen is pricey here, most medicines are still cheaper than in the US-think high-end antibiotics which cost an arm and a leg back home.
They have gotten MUCH tighter about what they will distribute in pharmacies. Antibiotics, once offered freely by the pharmacist, now require prescriptions-even refills! Medicines and supplements that were once legal are now off-limits. e.g. melatonin. If you do take prescription medicine and you want to be REALLY careful, you could get all your prescriptions attested back home before flying over.
What might be easier, missieUAE, is if you ask about a specific kind of medicine. I'll happily check next time I'm in the store.  |
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Iamherebecause
Joined: 07 Mar 2006
Posts: 427
Location: . . . such quantities of sand . . .
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Can anyone tell me about the availability of prescription medications in the UAE? In major cities, are they easier/harder to get, cheaper/more expensive, than the USA? |
Doctors are not allowed to prescribe everything which might be available in your own country. Check the regulations. So some things are impossible to get and other things are just - well - available on prescription.
In terms of cost, if you have a typical employer supported healthcare plan then when you go to the Dr you pay a flat fee of say 50dhs (that's what I paid last time) however many individual pharmaceutical items are provided. BUT the insurance schemes keep a tally of the cost of your medications to the insurance scheme and if you exceed the annual limit you end up paying. Can be a problem for people who need pricey stuff. |
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