PBS government assistance with drug cost

[jacksam]

In Australia we have drugs that via doctor application we obtain a "reduced" cost.

I as of yesterday have been put on a drug called Xarelto medium to longish term. Apparently have pulmonary embolism. Anyway to my question. These tablets (2 per day) cost 250baht each.

In au if obtained via PBS system the cost would be approx 70baht each. How do folkes access this. I presume for me it would be trip back to Australia?

[Sheryl]

AFAIK you have to be resident in Australia to access this, and hold a valid Medicare card. And I do not think they will give you many months supply at once so would be looking at multiple flights back there.

There are much less expensive drugs with similar action available in Thailand. The least expensive (dirt cheap) is called warafrin but requires regular blood tests as it has a very narrow therapeutic range.

Unless you have other reasons to be regularly returning to Australia I suggest you tell your doctor you need a less expensive medication. If you are willing to undergo regular blood tests - about once a month but perhaps weekly at first to get to the best dosage -- then you can save a great deal of money by switching to warfarin. The blood test (called INR or Prothrombin Time, AKA PT) is not expensive - should be couple hundred baht depending on were it is done.

[jacksam]

Thanks Sheryl. First of all glad I took your advice and got it sorted sooner rather than later.

Yes the doctor did mention cheaper option. He was little unclear about frequency of blood tests and was also talking about injections. As I travel a lot I felt the expensive option would suit initially.

I will look into switching after these 30 tabs are used. 15 days.

On side note I felt I got really good attention and help atPHYATHAI 1 hospital. I had a CT scan along with a test where they inject you with something to see how you heart lung is working. Saw lung doctor and also heart specialist. Had 10 tubes of blood taken for testing. (Not kidding)

Go back in two weeks to see heart expect. Anyway yes it was 46k baht but 12k of that was medication. All took about 4 hours and hardly any waiting throughout.

Back to PBS, I only visit AU couple of times a year so your correct, prob not an option