http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flandersnews.be/News/070421_pills

Belgians buy pills over the border

Sat 21/04/07 - Six coaches carrying a total of 260 passengers left
Belgium for the small town of Hulst just across the border in the
Dutch province of Zeeland. However, the passengers on the buses aren't
going to Zeeland to sample the local delicacies such as mussels and
roll mops.
The Belgians are heading for Hulst to protest at the high price of
medicine in Belgium.

They intend to purchase a supply of painkillers from shops in the
town.

Here in Belgium even non-prescription pain-killers may only be sold in
pharmacies.
(Belga)
A box of paracetamol, which is sold under the brand name Dafalgan, is
nine times more expensive here in Belgium.

This means that regular users of pain killers in Belgium spend a far
greater portion of their monthly income on medication than their Dutch
counterparts.

Koen Steel of the Christian Workers Movement KWB that organised
today's trip told the VRT that "A box of Dafalgan costs 4.30 euros at
a Belgian pharmacist".

"We pay just 0.50 euros for the same drug in the Kruidvat (a chain
store) and 0.70 euros at a pharmacist."

Mr Steel added that the Dutch are able to offer pain-killers at much
lower prices as they ask the drug companies for a tender and the
manufacturer offering the keenest price gets the order.

The Christian Mutual Health Insurance Fund, the KWB and Medicine for
the People hope that today's day trip to Hulst will encourage the
Belgian Government to think about the way in which drugs such as pain-
killers are purchased and sold.

sLuGhUnTeR wrote:

> http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flande...s/070421_pills
>
> Belgians buy pills over the border
>
> Sat 21/04/07 - Six coaches carrying a total of 260 passengers left
> Belgium for the small town of Hulst just across the border in the
> Dutch province of Zeeland. However, the passengers on the buses aren't
> going to Zeeland to sample the local delicacies such as mussels and
> roll mops.
> The Belgians are heading for Hulst to protest at the high price of
> medicine in Belgium.
>
Reminds me of the Norwegians taking the bus from Kirkeness to Finland to
shop. Since the amount permitted was per capita they all took their
kids. And often the neighbors kids.

"sLuGhUnTeR" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de news:
[email protected]. com...
> http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flande...s/070421_pills
>
> Belgians buy pills over the border
>
> Sat 21/04/07 - Six coaches carrying a total of 260 passengers left
> Belgium for the small town of Hulst just across the border in the
> Dutch province of Zeeland. However, the passengers on the buses aren't
> going to Zeeland to sample the local delicacies such as mussels and
> roll mops.
> The Belgians are heading for Hulst to protest at the high price of
> medicine in Belgium.
>
> They intend to purchase a supply of painkillers from shops in the
> town.
>
> Here in Belgium even non-prescription pain-killers may only be sold in
> pharmacies.
> (Belga)
> A box of paracetamol, which is sold under the brand name Dafalgan, is
> nine times more expensive here in Belgium.
>
> This means that regular users of pain killers in Belgium spend a far
> greater portion of their monthly income on medication than their Dutch
> counterparts.
>
> Koen Steel of the Christian Workers Movement KWB that organised
> today's trip told the VRT that "A box of Dafalgan costs 4.30 euros at
> a Belgian pharmacist".
>
> "We pay just 0.50 euros for the same drug in the Kruidvat (a chain
> store) and 0.70 euros at a pharmacist."
>
> Mr Steel added that the Dutch are able to offer pain-killers at much
> lower prices as they ask the drug companies for a tender and the
> manufacturer offering the keenest price gets the order.
>
> The Christian Mutual Health Insurance Fund, the KWB and Medicine for
> the People hope that today's day trip to Hulst will encourage the
> Belgian Government to think about the way in which drugs such as pain-
> killers are purchased and sold.
>