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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cubbybear on November 9, 2004, at 10:13:41
I'm one of those who is evidently falling through the proverbial "safety net" when it comes to getting any kind of financial assistance for my prescription drug prices--in this case, MAOI PARNATE.
At 55 years of age, I am not a Medicaid patient; I am a U.S. citizen yet am presently living overseas (long term), and I have no insurance to cover the cost of Rx drugs.
I'm now in the midst of an E-mail volley with the infamous drug manufacturer, GLAXO SMITH KLINE, which holds the purse strings for Parnate. Last year, GSK increased the price of Parnate by about 40%. I have informed them that I'm ineligible for their Orange Card Program. So then they steered me in the direction of the so-called Bridges to Access Program, saying that the medication will have to be shipped to my doctor's office (which would be in New York); apparently they won't send it to my legal U.S. forwarding address (my family's address, which is far from the doctor's office). I HATE GLAXO SMITH KLINE!!
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE DIRECT ME TO A CONSUMER/PATIENT'S ORGANIZATION THAT I CAN CONTACT TO (PUBLICLY) AIR MY GRIEVANCES ABOUT THIS DRUG COMPANY?? Thanks for your help.
Posted by mattsit on November 9, 2004, at 12:20:16
In reply to Somebody Please Help Me Deal With These People!, posted by cubbybear on November 9, 2004, at 10:13:41
I can sort of understand why they wont forward the drugs around the world...there are a lot of importing/exporting laws regarding medicines...It may be against the law to ship directly to you from a manufacturer? Can your doctor forward them to you?
Posted by Racer on November 9, 2004, at 19:22:16
In reply to Somebody Please Help Me Deal With These People!, posted by cubbybear on November 9, 2004, at 10:13:41
I've had to get meds through the company several times, and each and every pharmaceutical company involved has sent the meds to my doctor, who then forwarded them on to me. I've had them forwarded from the doctor's office to my new home several counties away, but know nothing about overseas shipping of meds.
Sorry, I know how frustrating it can be, but this is the way those programs are set up.
Posted by King Vultan on November 11, 2004, at 0:15:50
In reply to That's standard for these programs » cubbybear, posted by Racer on November 9, 2004, at 19:22:16
Realizing, of course, that the profits of a company like Glaxo are incredibly massive, I think it's good that these companies do have programs to help people out. I know that the big reason they do it is to keep the government off their backs, but if I were in a position such that I needed to participate in one of these programs, I think I would fundamentally be grateful to get the med and would be willing to put up with pretty much any kind of inconvenience to do so.
The problem with Parnate (and Nardil, which is also expensive but not quite as obscene) is that the volume is so small compared to many other drugs that even with the ridiculous mark-up, the profit is basically infinitesimal. From a free market perspective, they can charge whatever the market will bear, but unfortunately, Glaxo and Pfizer essentially have monopolies on Parnate and Nardil, respectively. Nobody else makes them; the drugs are unlike anything else available, other than Marplan, and if you want one of these drugs, you have no choice but to deal with the limitations of a product with a single source, leaving you completely at the manufacturer's mercy.
Todd
This is the end of the thread.
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