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The “Free Medicines 75+” program is an initiative aimed at supporting seniors in access to necessary medicines at no cost. This idea is commendable, but unfortunately it faces many obstacles that can make it difficult to use this program. In this article, we will discuss what difficulties seniors may encounter when trying to take advantage of free medicines and what are the potential solutions to these problems.
Who will be able to issue a prescription with “s”?
One of the first challenges is finding a doctor who will be able to issue a prescription with the “S” mark to the senior. Many people aged 75+ use the care of a family doctor (GP), but this is not always possible.
When there is no primary care doctor who takes care of the senior on a daily basis…
A situation in which a senior does not have a primary care physician assigned to him may be problematic. In this case, it is necessary to find another medical facility that can issue a prescription with the “S” marking.
What about patients after hospitalization?
Seniors who have recently been hospitalized may also experience difficulty obtaining a prescription with an “S.” Many of them are discharged from the hospital with a recommendation to continue treatment, but this does not always mean issuing a prescription with the “S” mark.
What should such a recipe look like?
Another problem is the proper preparation of the prescription. The doctor must adapt it to the requirements of the “Free Medicines 75+” program, which is not always obvious. This is especially important for seniors to avoid mistakes and unnecessary delays in receiving medications.
A pharmacist cannot add an “s” on a prescription
While your doctor can prepare a prescription, pharmacists also play an important role in the process of obtaining free medicines. If the pharmacist does not include the “S” mark on the prescription, the senior may encounter difficulties at the pharmacy.
The drug is on the free list, but ultimately it is the doctor who decides…
It is worth understanding that although the drug is on the free list, it is ultimately the doctor who decides whether the senior is eligible to use the program. The prescription is not always accepted, which can be disappointing for the patient.
Queues at primary care centers
Another problem that seniors often struggle with is long waiting times in health care facilities, especially primary care clinics. Queues can significantly delay the process of obtaining a prescription from “S”.
Your suggestions
It is worth thinking about a few suggestions that can help seniors take advantage of the “Free Medicines 75+” program. One solution may be to facilitate access to specialists in the absence of a primary care physician. It is also worth investing in educating seniors about the program and its procedures.
Recommended articles
If you want to learn more about the “Free Medicines 75+” program and other initiatives aimed at improving seniors’ health care, we recommend reading the following articles:
- “How to understand the “Free medicines 75+” program – step by step”
- “The role of pharmacists in the process of providing free medicines to seniors”
- “Seniors in health care – how can they help others?”
The “Free Medicines 75+” program aims to improve the quality of life of seniors by providing them with access to necessary medicines. Despite some difficulties, it is worth striving to facilitate the process and provide seniors with appropriate health care.