anonimouse

WOW

I thought my drugs were expensive lol.

Funny thing is, on prescription, the expensive ones are cheaper than the cheaper ones, when I asked why, they said because these are more important¿

Fred James

According to our pharmacist, Enbrel is available on prescription and would be free for a pensioner.

It could not be prescribed by your GP - it would have to be prescribed by a specialist at the local hospital.

That information applies here in Andalucia but as each region has it's own health service it is important to check in the area that you are intending to live in.

As it can take some time to get into the system here you would need to make sure that you can bring adequate supplies of the drug with you from the UK to cover the initial period, or be prepared to return to the UK temporarily to get the drugs.

Kenwoodlad

Thank you so very much, Fred, for getting that information. You're a star. It sounds the same as the UK, it has to be prescribed by the rheumatology consultant at the hospital.

I think we need to start asking these questions when we visit Spain on holiday. We haven't yet decided on where we want to move to. We have three different locations in mind - small seaside towns in Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia. If my Spanish gets good enough to ask a friendly pharmacist about Enbrel, we'll know what to expect.

Thank you again for your help on this, it is very much appreciated.

jackytoo

One possibility to consider is that the Consultant in Spain may decide that particular treatment is not appropriate and prescribe something else. They all make different decisions.

PS. My family have a company in Sheffield and used to hold staff dinners at Kenwood Hall (I think that was the name?) Would have been over 20 years ago since I was there. Some relatives live close by in Baslow.

HBG

About the area of Spain to live in, perhaps the most important part. An expert has just informed me that the rheumatology consultant at the local Spanish hospital speaks English, and I know from personal experience that the larger chemists all have English speakers.

There’s a price to pay for all that convenience, you will be surrounded by British people, and ‘real’ Spain, whatever that means, will be elsewhere. It’s a price I’m happy to pay, along with many thousands of others.

lynnxa

I know a Spanish pharmacist who speaks almost excellent english

I've known him since the first day he opened his shop here & he spoke 'medicine english' then

every time I went in we'd have a little chat & he'd ask me a few questions about how you'd say different things in english

now whenever I go in we do the business bit in spanish & then have a proper chat in english.........the spanish do love a chat...........

every brit I know in this town will go out of their way to use his pharmacy - beause Toni always goes out of his way to help

Kenwoodlad

Well, isn't it a small world! We live just round the corner from Kenwood Hall, still very much on the go as a hotel and events' venue.

Thanks for your comment on the consultant possibly having a different opinion. But he'd have to be from another planet if he didn't prescribe Enbrel. It's the only treatment in 20 years that has made any difference. And believe me, we've tried them all!