Canada, cannabis & Int'l borders

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. BK. Are you sure you were dealing with a pharmacist?

 

[BandB]

No we don't pay for GP consults (except through taxes) and no, pharmacists cannot write prescriptions in Canada

Many medications are available in Canada without a prescription that require one in the US. I suspect that's what he was referring to in the pharmacist having some "prescribing rights." Perhaps a poor choice of words.

 

[BruceK]

No we don't pay for GP consults (except through taxes) and no, pharmacists cannot write prescriptions in Canada

From memory, it was in Jasper. We spent the day before in Hinton, searching for elusive beavers.
The pharmacist was able to dispense, without a Dr`s. prescription,antibiotic capsules I needed for an obviously infected finger. So I called that prescribing, she did an examination,and she dispensed.
In Australia a pharmacist could not, without a Dr`s prescription. In Philippines you can buy them over the counter at any pharmacy.
In Australia some doctors will "bulk bill", ie take payment via Medicare, at no charge to the patient. Especially if the patient is disadvantaged. I just get a contribution from Medicare for about half the Doctor`s fee, or way less with a consultant specialist.
We have a free public hospital system, and an anything but free private system, for which insurance is available. The free hospital system is great for emergencies etc,a full range of emergency service without fees. But for elective operative treatment there are long delays,avoided if you go private.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. BK. Free hospital? Who pays for the cost of services provided to the public? Some benevolent agency? Government? IF government, then they get THEIR funding through your taxes so it's not really free then, is it? A system similar to Canada's, as I understand it.

 

[BruceK]

Greetings,
Mr. BK. Free hospital? Who pays for the cost of services provided to the public? Some benevolent agency? Government? IF government, then they get THEIR funding through your taxes so it's not really free then, is it? A system similar to Canada's, as I understand it.

Of course, Govt money comes from taxpayers, not thin air. There is a "Medicare levy"(it`s definitely not a tax because it`s called a levy) on income for most people, and an extra "levy" if you earn over a certain amount and didn`t take out Private Health Insurance.
The good part is no massive Emergency Room charges if something nasty happens,and good(but not perfect) public hospital services. And if you have private health insurance ready access to elective surgery and other treatment in private hospitals. So far our private health insurers have not been able to intrude on treatment choices to any great extent.

 

[boatpoker]

From memory, it was in Jasper. We spent the day before in Hinton, searching for elusive beavers.
The pharmacist was able to dispense, without a Dr`s. prescription,antibiotic capsules I needed for an obviously infected finger. So I called that prescribing, she did an examination,and she dispensed.
In Australia a pharmacist could not, without a Dr`s prescription. In Philippines you can buy them over the counter at any pharmacy.
In Australia some doctors will "bulk bill", ie take payment via Medicare, at no charge to the patient. Especially if the patient is disadvantaged. I just get a contribution from Medicare for about half the Doctor`s fee, or way less with a consultant specialist.
We have a free public hospital system, and an anything but free private system, for which insurance is available. The free hospital system is great for emergencies etc,a full range of emergency service without fees. But for elective operative treatment there are long delays,avoided if you go private.

Antibiotics are available over the counter here. No prescription required. I bought some 2 days ago and asked the pharmacist what he recommended but that is all it was, a recommendation.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. BK. What you describe in post #65 is pretty well how the Canadian system works in the simplest of terms. I know a young Canadian gal who suffered a stroke at age 31, recovered and subsequently went on to have 2 kids. No charge for any of this AFAIK.


In spite of the fact you are a Commonwealth citizen, I don't think health care is a reciprocal service between the two nations. Hence the $350 charge. Be thankful you didn't have to go to emerg' in the US.


https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/wildly-overinflated-hospital-costs/

 

[boatpoker]

In Ontario I am covered under OHIP. I once broke my wrist in Quebec and was refused treatment at an emergency clinic until I could go back to my hotel room and get my credit card. Each province has it's own system and there is no reciprocity.

 

[Lou_tribal]

In Ontario I am covered under OHIP. I once broke my wrist in Quebec and was refused treatment at an emergency clinic until I could go back to my hotel room and get my credit card. Each province has it's own system and there is no reciprocity.

Were you personally charged for the hospital cost or did your Ontario health protection paid?

L

 

[boatpoker]

Were you personally charged for the hospital cost or did your Ontario health protection paid?

L

Sorry, I thought I made that clear. I had to pay with my own credit card. I was not reimbursed by OHIP.

 

[Lou_tribal]

Sorry, I thought I made that clear. I had to pay with my own credit card. I was not reimbursed by OHIP.

I am surprised, usually there is a kind of reciprocity across provinces. A lot of people from Quebec are going in Ontario and the bill is paid by Quebec RAMQ (same as OHIP). Usually credit card is requested a guarantee that the bill will be paid but is not charged ( like for an hotel reservation if I can compare). At the end a bill is provided and you have a time period to pay.
Here a lot of people are going to Hawkesbury hospital as it is very near Montreal and less congested.

L

 

[hayesdvm]

I read an article about the $4 billion dollar investment by Constellation Brands, the company that owns Corona beer among others, in the Canadian company Canopy Growth Corporation, leading up to the legalization of pot in Canada. The article referenced how the sale of alcohol in Colorado has been much lower after the legalization of pot there, perhaps indicating that consumers might feel that using pot is a safer health choice than alcohol for those wanting to ingest/inhale something to make them more mellow. So, it would appear that Constellation is hedging their business in the event that pot takes away business from the alcohol sales business.

I suspect that most people that are casual consumers will not seek out the neighborhood dealer if a storefront is readily available, so with time the legalized outlets should do the bulk of the business. It will be interesting to see.

On the CBD side, which is THC free and available online, the medical benefits are interesting. In animals, we are waiting for several recent clinical trials to be published that will provide for the first time some scientific evidence to confirm if medically helpful for two conditions: arthritis and seizures/epilepsy. Based on anecdotal accounts, there is reason to believe it may be, as well as for other conditions. If the FDA can be shown evidence of medical benefit, it will help bring it off the list of drugs banned for prescription where it now sits. When we talk about Big Pharma or lobbyists, you can be sure they do not want CBD or marijuana legalized for anything. CBD and pot are pretty inexpensive compared to opioids, and a lot less addictive. It would be far better for patients to be able to try marijuana for pain management first, before going to opioids.

Mark

 

[Group9]

I think most governments are finally learning that trying to keep drug users from using drugs, is a monumental waste of money and effort, and ultimately, completely futile.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. h. "... bring it off the list of drugs banned..." Big pharma must have lobbied to have CBD downgraded. Follow the $$...


https://hempindustrydaily.com/dea-takes-cbd-off-schedule-1-with-fdas-approval/


Edit: As an aside regarding the $$. 2 former opponents to MJ, in ANY form, are a former POLICE CHIEF of Toronto (Julian Fantino) and a former Prime Minister (Brian Mulroney) who are now very heavily involved in the "drug trade" now that it's legal....


https://ca.news.yahoo.com/why-many-former-prohibitionist-politicians-090000895.html

 

[Ejdakins]

Princeton and Pentiction couple hundred km apart