Medication - Is there any other alternatives?

My Dad is currently having to pay €80 a month for Apixiban tablets in Malta. Is this not on the schedule V form for life threatening illnesses? If not is there a way he can get the U.K to foot the bill... He is a U.K state pensioner.
Is there any other alternatives?

I would have thought so, has he asked his GP here?  Does he normally get free medication as he could query it with POYC.

Gooner75 wrote:

My Dad is currently having to pay €80 a month for Apixiban tablets in Malta. Is this not on the schedule V form for life threatening illnesses? If not is there a way he can get the U.K to foot the bill... He is a U.K state pensioner.
Is there any other alternatives?


You would need to check with your doctor/pharmacy/POYC to see whether it is on the list.

Whilst your father could get treatment with the NHS still if he has his Maltese health cover via the S1 form, not sure that if he visited a UK doctor he could get a prescription covering a long period and return with a bulk supply!

My husband & I are in the same situation, both being pensioners.  We have the Certificate of Entitlement + yellow card for medication - but you can only have medication that is on the Government list, so some you may get for free but others you have to pay for & they are not cheap.  You will have to see a consultant that specialises in the field of medication that covers your condition which can take a long time as you have to see a doctor who will then refer you and months later you will see the consultant, or you can do as I did & pay to see a consultant privately who will then authorise your listed medication.  There are quite a few medicines that we have for free under the NHS in the UK, but not here - you either have to pay or accept an alternative that is on the list.  There is one alternative, you can go on-line and order medication, I have not done this as I am concerned that I may be on a site that would sell me a drug which is a 'copy' and not the correct medication.  Hope this helps.

To get my yellow card I just saw my GP, I never had to see a consultant..

If the medication is for something like high blood pressure a doctor will issue a prescription, but if it is anything to do with eg respiratory conditions, cancer related etc, you will have to see a specialist/cosultant.