Thread: Prescription medicines in Australia for tourists

Hi Brendan

That sounds like a beta-blocker to me. Quite significant medication. To get it here, you will need to visit an Australian doctor to renew your prescription.

Since you don't have a Medicare card, you'll need to pay cash up front for the doctor's time. Most doctors you visit in the suburbs will be set up for this arrangement. You should be able to claim this cost against your travel insurance (you will have travel insurance, right???).

I'd write you one myself, but the only thing I may prescribe is radiation.

cheers,
Alastair

Hi Brendan,

It might also be worth getting a copy of your medical file, and a letter from your doctor in the UK.....it might save some time and hassles when you need to visit an Australian doctor for a prescription.

hope that's of some help.

Regards,

Bruce

As mentioned above, there should be no problems getting a prescription from an Australian doctor (with a copy of your UK prescription or better your medical records to show the doctor), but you can expect to pay more than an Australian would. A quick check shows it is a prescription drug here and the same name is recognised (although you may end up with a different brand).

As a UK Citizen you should be able to get a Medicare Card - as UK/AUS have a reciprocal agreement on health care, well it was when I arrived - certainly worth checking. So you should then try to register on arrival in Aus for a Medicare card - this way all your records etc will be linked (hopefully).

You can find some Doctors that will "bulk bill" the Government for your treatment by using your Medicare Card

HTH

LRH

Thanks for all your prompt helpful replies.

Alaister, you had me slightly worried when you mentioned beta blockers and significant medication.

A quick look on net found THIS which explained things better to me. Thanks for the prompt to get more info.

The doctor who prescribed it for me did not mentioned beta blockers. The GP I saw earlier today checked my blood pressur and it is normal for my age. The drops have reduced the pressure in my eye, so it is working for me!


The eye problem I have is glaucoma but only in left eye. Apparently it effects about 2-5% of population and becomes more of a problem with increasing age from about 45-50. So folks it is well worth having regular eye checks and making sure you get a field test done. It can be slowed with eye drops, untreated it could lead to tunnel vision etc.

Regards



Brendan

Originally Posted by leeds

Only problem is I will be touring Australia for 6+ months!

So can I just buy it over the counter in Australia, or do I have to try and register with a GP in Australia? If so what is the process for a tourist who will have no fixed address in Australia.

Regards
Brendan

Brendan

Australia and the UK have reciprocal health care agreements, however there are restrictions on what care you are entitled to. You should check out the Medicare website on visitors to Australia.

You are entitled to free emergency health care in a public hospital on the presentation of your passport with valid Visa for Australia. I have done this many times for visitors covered by the reciprocal health care arrangements.

In Australia, you don't have to register with a particular doctor. You can go to any doctor, but if using the reciprocal health care arrangements, be aware that only some doctors provide free health care (bulk bill) the others will charge you a fee which you claim back some of it from Medicare. Be aware that in many major hotels they have a Medical Service, with doctors who are unable to claim through Medicare, some overseas trained, others junior hospital doctors (getting extra money) who are not yet entitled to a Medicare provider number and still a few others who are excluded from Medicare because of overbilling offenses against Medicare, using these doctors you will have to pay their full consultation price which you can claim from your travellers health insurance.

You are probably able to have a prescription from your UK doctor filled by an Australian pharmacist. Although that would need to be on the doctors letterhead with contact details included on the script and would be at retail price not including any PBS subsidy.

So check out the Medicare Visitor site and perhaps apply for a Medicare card.

Regards
Diana

Perhaps given the circumstances, you may be able to get more that 3 months supply; but whatever the situation, I'd recommend getting a letter from your doctor on his letter head listing all your medications and reason for taking them. It's probably not warranted for a visit to Australia, but it's good practice in case of any challenges from customs.

I did the same for traveling across Europe, I never needed it, but it was peace of mind.

Brendan

If you arrive via Sydney and stay at a hotel in the city. The Sydney Eye Hospital is on Macquarie Street and has it's own emergency department. If you present yourself around 8am on anything other than a Monday, you should be seen quite quickly and get your prescriptions for the rest of the stay.

Cheerio
Diana