Hello folks: one of my travel group members is running out of insulin. He will be in Munich tomorrow, staying close to Ostbahnhof. For tonight, we are staying in Holzkirchen, Bavaria.
Our guess is that this requires a prescription. So, how can he get an urgent appointment for a prescription? Which are the bigger pharmacies that are likely to stock insulin in a bottle?
Thanks a million!
Try this place:
http://www.ahd-hausbesuch.de
Let him go to any local doctor (general practitioner) and get that prescription. The doctor will need to see him in person, but since this is a sort of emergency, they will take him without an appointment. He will have to be prepared to spend some time waiting though. Does he have insurance?
Then go to any pharmacy, the closest one to your hotel or the first one you can find. If they haven't got it on stock, they will be able to get it for you within a matter of hours.
Thanks a billion! He has insurance, even overseas. It will be billed as out of network care.
You can also usually go to a Pharmacy first, and they will be able to put him in contact with a Doctor. Hopefully your companion has all the details on type, dose, etc.
You can also usually go to a Pharmacy first, and they will be able to
put him in contact with a Doctor.
Anyone can put him in contact with a doctor. Every hotel reception has the phone numbers of the nearest doctors at hand. The pharmacy can't really do anything for him before he has his prescription.
Thanks again. He was able to see a doctor who wrote a prescription for him. Got his insulin finally.
Anyone can put him in contact with a doctor.
Well, I would be hesitant to ask a random person on the street. My point being, most Pharmacists (at least in the countries I have visited, can't speak for Germany, never had a medical concern there) are at least familiar with Doctors in the area and based on the need, may be able to direct you to the Doctor that can best help, based on any speciality. Pharmacies are also incredibly easy to find, Doctor's offices tend to be tucked away or non-descript.
It does not apply in this case, but in general, they can be a good source of information; and coming from the US, some things that may require a prescription here, can be dispensed by a Pharmacist without a prescription. But again, not entirely familiar with Germany, maybe Pharmacists are less capable or have more restrictions.
@Paul: I'm sorry, I didn't mean my wording to sound unfriendly. You are perfectly right of course, I wasn't thinking of any random person but for instance of a hotel clerk.
As far as the capabilities of German pharmacies go, yes, they are highly trained (the owner of each pharmacy is required to have a university degree in pharmaceutics) and can give you valuable advice and over-the-counter medication. Insulin would certainly require a prescription though.
Generally, hotel owner or staff can recommend a nearby doctor -- in Berlin they found me an ear specialist a few blocks away. Pay up front, submit bills to insurance for reimbursement. (My costs were below the $50 deductible.)
I would start at a pharmacy. Many prescription medicines as we know them are sold over the counter in Europe. In some countries, the pharmacist can issue prescriptions for maintenance meds--like insulin.
In the U.S., you can walk into any Walmart Pharmacy and obtain a generic insulin vial for $25 without a prescription. If you had a prescription for Novolog, it'll cost you $315 approximately.
If a doctor's prescription is required, the pharmacist can give him a physician's name.
if we look up 5 posts, the problem has been solved
