Poik – one of my patients with serious and long standing problems with a corneal graft is having to travel to Geelong every month to pick up drops formulated for her at the hospital there. She can claim some government travelling money when going to appointments with the subspecialist ophthalmologist, but not when she has to collect the drops. Apparently they won’t send them to her, she has to collect them. I’m sorry, I didn’t ask her what they are.

Do you know of any arrangements to make this financially easier? She is legally blind and her husband is her carer. They tell me the drops are not subsidized either. (I should have asked what they are, but I was actually seeing her husband this morning and got told this in passing).

You think she could pick them up in bulk or do they have an short term expiry

buffy said:

Poik – one of my patients with serious and long standing problems with a corneal graft is having to travel to Geelong every month to pick up drops formulated for her at the hospital there. She can claim some government travelling money when going to appointments with the subspecialist ophthalmologist, but not when she has to collect the drops. Apparently they won’t send them to her, she has to collect them. I’m sorry, I didn’t ask her what they are.

Do you know of any arrangements to make this financially easier? She is legally blind and her husband is her carer. They tell me the drops are not subsidized either. (I should have asked what they are, but I was actually seeing her husband this morning and got told this in passing).

By the sounds of it, the hospital would be covering some of the cost – non PBS listed drugs are sometimes funded at the state level for patients that need them. I’m not sure why they won’t send them, my kweenzland overlords do tons of chemo/highly specialised drugs and courier them around the country. Most supplies to public hospitals is couriered from a major city as well anyway.

Knowing what the drops are would help.

Cymek said:

You think she could pick them up in bulk or do they have an short term expiry

I’ve got patients that get 6 months at a time, the drugs get sent to me first though to ensure cold chain etc.

Buffy, your patient should ask if they can send the drops to the local pharmacy.

poikilotherm said:

buffy said:

Poik – one of my patients with serious and long standing problems with a corneal graft is having to travel to Geelong every month to pick up drops formulated for her at the hospital there. She can claim some government travelling money when going to appointments with the subspecialist ophthalmologist, but not when she has to collect the drops. Apparently they won’t send them to her, she has to collect them. I’m sorry, I didn’t ask her what they are.

Do you know of any arrangements to make this financially easier? She is legally blind and her husband is her carer. They tell me the drops are not subsidized either. (I should have asked what they are, but I was actually seeing her husband this morning and got told this in passing).

By the sounds of it, the hospital would be covering some of the cost – non PBS listed drugs are sometimes funded at the state level for patients that need them. I’m not sure why they won’t send them, my kweenzland overlords do tons of chemo/highly specialised drugs and courier them around the country. Most supplies to public hospitals is couriered from a major city as well anyway.

Aye, I get the tobramyacin subsidised from the hospital and they courier it up. Ps Buffy I will be applying for that remote patients thingo as I would/should be covered.

Thanks poik….I’ll suggest they push for them to courier or send to local pharmacy. We have a pharmacy at the hospital here in Hamilton too, I wonder if they could be made here. I’ll chat with them some more when I see them about. I’ve known this lady since the mid 1980s, so I know her trials and tribulations quite well.

Glad to be of assistance Awesome. We should use these schemes or risk losing them on the basis that they are not required.

Individualized pharmaceuticals

great concept