State healthcare system.
 

Went to my state family doctor today to test the system for the first time. I still have private medical but I wanted to see how efficient it works.

All I needed was some BP medication so I showed reception the box and she typed out a note for me that looked like a receipt for a €2,50 payment and said I must return next Friday for the script.

Now what happens if I was feeling ill? Would I still have to wait a week?

Re: State healthcare system.
 

Did she mean next Friday, or tomorrow Friday?
A common error by non-native speakers of English is that "next Friday" must be the next one to arrive, unaware that the phrase is [probably] a shortened form of "next week Friday".

I've caught it a few times.

Re: State healthcare system.
 

It will be there tomorrow.

The 2.50 you paid is for a prescription without seeing the doctor, as in a repeat prescription. Normally donw within 24 hours and if you doc is on holiday, then another doc will do it.

4.50 is seeing the doctor for a problem.

Although in saying that, I used to have to "see" the doc, to get my prescription. but now they know me here, no worries.

Re: State healthcare system.
 

Me to,

Tomorrow is THIS Friday, the 5th Jan is NEXT Friday.

better to check the date rather than the day.

Re: State healthcare system.
 

No, of course not.

Where do you think you are and what sort of government do you think we have :confused:

Re: State healthcare system.
 

FWIW, My Centro de Saude now has a system where I can email my Doctor for a repeat prescription which is emailed & SMSd to me (usually) within a day or two at no cost so it might be worth asking if they have the same service?

I am diabetic though so get free prescriptions (for diabetic meds) anyway.

Re: State healthcare system.
 

I think you guys are correct about the "next Friday" and "next week Friday".

I doubt the email/sms method is used here because they never asked for my cell number or my email address. How would I be able to pay the €2,50?

Re: State healthcare system.
 

SMS is certainly used round here - you go to the health centre to request and pay but you don't have to return to collect the prescription itself.

Re: State healthcare system.
 

I learned the way the Portuguese cope with repeat prescriptions - they get the first one from the Doctor - take it to be filled out then ask the Pharmacist to give it back to them - saying they will be needing it again.

Not saying all Pharmacies will allow it, but I have tried this myself and it worked fine

Re: State healthcare system.
 

Most repeat prescriptions are valid for 6 months. Also, if you ask for a tres vias, then you'll get three prescriptions in one. All the pharmacist will do is write on the form how many you have left.

Unless it's different in different parts of Portugal, that's how it works here.

Re: State healthcare system.
 

In my case I don't pay because I'm diabetic but I believe that all SMS or email ones are free....... Could be wrong on that though.

Re: State healthcare system.
 

My pharmacist tells me that she can repeat most prescriptions for her patients without any further paperwork, as a registered pharmacist; this excludes anything narcotic, which is on a stricter regime.

However, when she does that we don't benefit from the state subsidy on medicines. Sometimes that's significant, sometimes it's not.