www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have tried to explain the way this (Medicos de farmacia) works here a couple of times but I think it is such a foreign concept to most Gringos that they just do not get it. These Drs. are, as you said, different from Medical Doctors--not licensed to treat major medical problems, can not preform surgical treatments, etc. Really all they can do is prescribe meds for "minor" illnesses. I am not really very clear on just where the line is drawn since they seem to be able to prescribe most prescription meds. And, yes, I have stated several times that all 3 ED meds do actually require a script here (many guys think not since they do not have a script, never see a doctor, and yet get the meds. What they do not see is the clerk getting the pharmaceutical Dr. to sign the script when they go to the back to get the ED drug.

What really causes a problem is some farmacies have on staff farmaceutico Drs. and others do not; and some charge for the script and others do not. This charge can sometimes (especially for Gringos) double the cost of the med. For example, many guys think they are getting a real bargain for Sostenon 250 at the Farmacia up the hill from la Amistad (in front of the hospital). They are much cheaper compared to USA prices, but compared to other farmacias here they are paying right at double-- about c16ml compared to about c8ml at say Farmacia del Parque which does not charge for the script. Farmacies that do not have a "Dr." in house cannot sell script requiring meds without a script. The largest chain here, Fischel, does not have "Drs" in house and will not sell say, Viagra, without one from an outside DR. By the way, Fischel, even though they do not have in house Drs. are also the most expensive farmacies here. I also did hear recently that they and the Farmacias del Bomba (they lowest priced chain here) are both adding Drs.

My info comes from the 2 medical Drs. and one Farmaceutico Dr. that live where I do here. The Farmaceutico Dr. was working for la Bomba farmacias but recently quit to take over as head of quality control for one of the two Farmaceutico labs here. He was the only Dr the Bomba farmacies had for their 4 locations and I am not sure if he has been replaced or not.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

survival of the fittest

If you want drugs and can get them ....well, rock on....it's your life and you can do what you want.

in the US, the government will take care of you and make sure you don't take anything bad for you.....and make you go broke with insurance premiums and dr's visits

This was an informative Thread about CR; why the hijacking for yet another anti-Federal, anti-ObamaCare rant?

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

It's not anti-Obama, we have been getting screwed by our health system way before Obama came to office.

The doctors are in bed with the drug companies. And they are all in bed with the insurance companies. So we the least amount of "care" for the highest price they are allowed to charge.

As for the pharmacy doctors, they are similar to pharmacists in the US. I'm talking real pharmacists not the girl/guy who puts your name and insurance info into the computer when you fill a prescription at CVS. Though, they can't prescribe any meds. Or it could be like nurse practitioner where they can prescribe medication but aren't actual doctors.

That is the closest comparison to a farmacia doctor in Costa Rica = a nurse practitioner in the US. However, in the US you have to go to a doctor-like consultation, and pay mucho $$, to see a Nurse practitioner and get the meds. In CR you just have the "free" consultation over the counter at the farmacia!

Really? Wow!!!

I paid $17 US for a shot Sustenon250 at the pharmacy closet the COCAL. I know I got the right meds cause I watched it all. However at the pharmacy(la cumrie) up the hill from the LA there is a Tico that works there and he gave me a shot that did no good. I never got to see anything but suspect I didn't get the real thing. Every time I went in there, he always wanted a tip.

So you are an advocate of the "single payer" system that every civilized country but the US has? Sure busts the myth of "American exceptionalism" (the bright side, not the dark side). With all you've said, stock in KY Jelly looks to be the stock pick--they're not dry sliders, are they, these folks shtupping us and each other? Frankly,I don't care because I don't have to care--23 years in the USPS gives me all I need...and everybody here had the same choice. I had the least-cost thus least coverage plan available--last year my out-of-pocket costs were $0 though I am responsible for $1500-8000 of costs, then 20% after that. I pay $145/month and usually get rebates. Again I say this was available to every one who didn't think they could beat the system but chose to subvert it from the inside. Wanna talk to me now about the power of unionism and why it's such a working-class tragedy as to its going away?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s62KngW84rU

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

[/quote]


There in lies the biggest problem the US has to face in the next 50 years....no one cares except what's good for them and in the case of the country it's the politicians...they care what's best for them.... and are doing something about it...attaining ,............... lawyers, guns and money (WZ had a good start) power and status only to drive the country of the "I don't cares" into oblivion.

Get involved and do something

There in lies the biggest problem the US has to face in the next 50 years....no one cares except what's good for them and in the case of the country it's the politicians...they care what's best for them.... and are doing something about it...attaining ,............... lawyers, guns and money (WZ had a good start) power and status only to drive the country of the "I don't cares" into oblivion.

Get involved and do something[/quote]

Good post Chilimike...I concur.
Two words regarding politicians...term limits

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

Neither Bros Chilimike nor GT seems to have read my post thoroughly, instead using it to go into left-field rants about politics. There is a modicum of sense to term-limits but that might be of dubious constitutionality on a national level. And, define please "...get involved...". Like this maybe? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYrXdkKQTeE << I'll grab my dancing shoes...

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED