Posted on 06/09/2012 11:35:13 AM PDT by blam
Greek Debt Crisis: Chronic Drug Shortage Risking Lives Of The Sick
Patients groups' warning comes as pharmaceutical companies become increasingly reluctant to deliver drugs on credit
Lizzy Davies in Athens
guardian.co.uk, Friday 8 June 2012 14.51 EDT
Clutching a prescription and a ticket numbered 192, Aris stood on the pavement and waited his turn at the state pharmacy. When speaking of his daughter, whose multiple sclerosis medication he had come to collect, the 74-year-old was short on words and visibly moved. When asked about the drug shortages afflicting his country, his reserve melted away and in its place came rage.
"I was told that at some point there would be a problem," he said of the drugs that can cost up to €2,500 (£2,000) for "a tiny box of 22 pills".
"From what I can see, everyone is going to have a problem," added the retired electrician. "If they don't pay the suppliers, how are they going to bring drugs into the country?"
This time, Aris walked away with his daughter's medication – giving as he went the traditional Greek gesture of insult, the moutza, to the "thieves and fraudsters" of the state. But not everyone is as lucky. On Thursday, the multiple sclerosis patients' association warned that if the problems persisted, sufferers could be "led to their deaths". Associations representing cancer, diabetes and kidney disease patients have also spoken of the gravity of the situation. "Finding medicines," said the MS association, "has become a marathon for people with chronic illnesses."
In the Greece of today, a country gripped by economic collapse and paralysed by political uncertainty, more and more users of expensive medicines are finding a healthcare system that had problems even before the eurozone crisis hit is close to disaster.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Www.fishmoxfishflex.com. Buy it cheap, stack it deep.
There is no “shortage”. Producers are just unwilling to deliver product without getting paid. Be willing to pay cash and you can get all you want.
“”If they don’t pay the suppliers, how are they going to bring drugs into the country?”
We’ve already got a serious drug shortage here. Thanks, obama
Chronic deficit spending squanders capital, leads to bankruptcy, poverty and misery. All the clever financial gimmicks are futile. Greece is simply the opening act. Spain, Italy and France to follow. Things will get ugly.
All the “traditional” gestures in the world isn’t going to save a people who have no character and no moral foundation.There is nothing to this country except a name,an idea of what hat names means.
There is nothing concrete or anything that allows people to actually think for themselves.Which is what should be required of a people calling themselves the Greeks.
Whew! Lucky that their health care is free!
This is an exact description of Obamacare in 5 years. Just substitute the word “Obamacare” for the word “Greek”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.