Australia

[vivmac55]

hi my daughter is travelling in australia and needs humeria,we have it delivered to our house is there any way we can send it to her? or does anyone know if she can get it in oz?

 

[DustyKat]

Hi vivmac55,

I don't know that you would be able to post it due to the storage requirements of the drug and ?customs. Since there is a reciprocal health agreement between our two countries this would apply to your daughter. I don't know anything more than what is quoted below from the Medicare website in Australia. Perhaps you could ring the number quoted here or maybe Australia House in London? I don't know how helpful they would be though...

Reciprocal Health Care Agreement

Where an eligible patient is a visitor from a country with which Australia has entered into a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, the supply will be limited to the original prescription only. Repeat prescriptions for these patients are not permitted.

Lodgement

The postal address for all written applications is:

Medicare Australia
Prior written approval of specialised drugs
Reply paid 9826
GPO Box 9826
Hobart TAS 7001


(No stamp required if posted in Australia)

For more information please call 1800 700 270* (option 4) between 8:00am and 5:00pm EST, Monday to Friday.

Good luck!

Dusty. xxx

 

[vivmac55]

:sign0085:hi dusty,i am totally clueless about this australia thing!!!!she has only been gone for one month so still has medication as she took three humeria injections with her,does she just go to a doctors and ask for her medication or does she need a prescription from home?she also is on azthiaprin daily.she seems to be having such a good time so as any 21 year old has put everything else on hold like the doctors !!does she have to pay for her drugs ?as i say aint got a clue and various people have told totally different stories about Aussie healthcare,pls help!!!!!:sign0085::

 

[DustyKat]

Where is she at present?

I would get her to go to a Medicare office. They will tell her what she needs to do.

Here is a link to Health care for visitors to Australia:
Visitors from the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland,
Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta and Italy

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/spw/customer/publications/resources/ma1856/1856-1106en.pdf

As far as I know she would be eligible for the same access to services and programs as an Australian would through the public health system. Her Humira and Azathioprine would be available under the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) and there would be a cost involved, about $34.00 per script. As stated in the quote I gave earlier her Humira would not be available past the original script. What that means I don't know so going to a Medicare office would be the best way to get the appropriate info. Azathioprine wouldn't be an issue.

Dusty. xxx

 

[vivmac55]

thats brilliant .thanks so much..... will let you know !!!!

 

[stefan]

Humira comes in twin packs on the PBS so that's probably the limit of what's available to her, but definitely check on that. Also, not sure it's relevant, but if she needs a PBS script written for it she'll need to see a GI or GP that specialises in IBD, as not everyone can write them.

The reciprocal agreements are only meant to cover "medically necessary" treatment that wasn't arranged before arriving, so it's good to see there are options available for preexisting scripts too, though it's a pity it may be limited.

Good luck with the red tape!

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