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Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: John2038 on November 30, 2008, 06:58:17 am

Title: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: John2038 on November 30, 2008, 06:58:17 am
Hi

I think it is interesting to know the price of a treatment per country, for many reasons.

As such, if you know the price of your treatment in your country, could you please post-it ?
If so, please provide accurate info, as well as the conditions to get the prices you mention, if any.
Please double check the prices you are providing and provide your source and the price date.

I am starting with the price in Canada and South Africa for resp. new treatments and standard treatment.

CANADA- New Treatment - Aug 2008

(http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/9087/newhaartcanadapricelistgp1.gif)


SOUTH AFRICA - Standard Treatment - Nov 2008

KALETRA  200/50 mg (lopinavir + ritonavir) - 90 caps
226.40 ZAR / 22.53 USD / 17.76 EUR (*)

TRUVADA 200/300 mg (emtricitabine + tenofovir) - 30 caps
442.70 ZAR / 44.05 USD / 34.72 EUR

(*) Std regimen =180 caps/month

So a 30 days treatment KALETRA (180 caps) + TRUVADA (30 caps) will cost in SA:
895.50 ZAR / 89.11 USD / 70.24 EUR

Source
Receipt

Exchange rate (Nov 30, 2008):     
1 ZAR = 0.0995025 USD
1 USD = 10.0500 ZAR
1 ZAR = 0.0784443 EUR
1 EUR = 12.7479 ZAR

Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: Rural_oz on November 30, 2008, 04:19:12 pm
Hi John

Here are some prices from Australia.  Source: Off the bottles in front of me.  Date:  Current

The Australian govt. subsidises prescription medications so there are 3 prices that I am aware of.

Full cost : the cost to the government from the pharmaceutical companies.
Dispensing Fee #1 : The cost to people NOT on government support
Dispensing Fee #2 : The cost to people who are on government support

Nevirapine (Viramune) 60 Pack
FC - A$271.58   DF1 - A$25.00   DF2 - A$5.00

Kivexa (Abacavir & Lamivudine) 30 Pack
FC - A$564.00   DF1 - A$25.00   DF2 - A$5.00

Based on an approx. exchange rates a thirty day cost of the above regime would be:
FC - A$834.58 / US$543/ EUR 426
DF1 - A$50.00 / US$32 / EUR 25
DF2 - A$10.00 / US$7  / EUR 5

I hope this is useful.....

(editted because I am stupid at exchange rates!)
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: John2038 on December 01, 2008, 04:00:41 am
Thanks Rural_oz

With the conversion rates:

AUSTRALIA - Dec 2008

VIRAMUNE 200 mg (Nevirapine) - 60 caps (*)
FC  271.58 AUD / 174.2 USD / 137.90 EUR
DF1 25.00 AUD / 16.01 USD / 12.70 EUR
DF2 5.00 AUD / 3.21 USD / 2.54 EUR

EPZICOM 600/300 mg (Kivexa, abacavir + lamivudine) - 30 caps
FC  564.00 AUD / 362.62 USD / 286.44 EUR
DF1 25.00 AUD / 16.01 USD / 12.70 EUR
DF2 5.00 AUD / 3.21 USD / 2.54 EUR

So a 30 days treatment VIRAMUNE (60 caps) + EPZICOM (30 caps) will cost in AUSTRALIA:
FC  834.58 AUD / 536.43 USD / 423.51 EUR
DF1 50.00 AUD / 32.14 USD / 25.38 EUR
DF2 10.00 AUD / 6.431 USD / 5.08EUR

(*) Taking Viramune is a two-step process. For the first two weeks (14 days) of treatment, the dose is one 200mg tablet once a day. Two weeks after starting treatment, the dose of Viramune is increased to one 200mg tablet twice a day

Legend
FC   = Full cost : the cost to the government  from the pharmaceutical companies.
DF1 = Dispensing Fee #1 : The cost to people NOT on government support
DF2 = Dispensing Fee #2 : The cost to people who are on government support

Source
Receipt

Exchange rate (Nov 30, 2008):     
1 AUD = 0.641399 USD
1 USD = 1.55909 AUD
1 AUD = 0.507873 EUR
1 EUR = 1.96900 AUD
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: J.R.E. on December 01, 2008, 08:04:13 am


I just picked up 3 prescriptions, on the way home this morning from Walgreens :

Epzicom (30 day supply )----retail :   $984.09

Viread    ( 30 day supply )---retail :   $701.09

Viramune (30 day suplly)---Retail :    $506.99



I also just went back through my records to compare prices from the early part of 2004. I don't throw anything away...

Epzicom : $765.19

Viread :    $501.99

Viramune :  $430.99

Ray




Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: J.R.E. on December 01, 2008, 08:19:48 am

Was also looking back at some of the prescription receipts I have from 2003 :

Cipro :  $159.99 ( early 2003)

Diflucan: $ $141.00

 VI-Q-tuss liquid $22.09

Sulfameth/ trimethophrim :  $59.59

Prednisone:   $10.79

Zithromax:  $ 149.79

Valtrex:  $119.59

Epivir ( before I started on Epzicom) :  $52.33

Zerit ( only on this briefly):  $362.99

Ziagen ( replaced the Zerit ):  $411.99


Holy shit. I look back at these medications that I started off on in 2003, and realize just how bad shape I was in.


Ray
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: J.R.E. on December 01, 2008, 08:32:27 am


Also forgot the Aldara 5% cream, and the cholesterol medications :

Price of this stuff in 11/30/07-----$241.99

Simvastatin :---$139.99

R
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: Rural_oz on December 01, 2008, 03:49:37 pm
Sorry to butt in here, but J.R.E. are you saying that you have to pay US$2.192.17 each month for your meds?  Do you receive any money back from the government or Health insurance?  If I have read that properly then I am absolutely gob-smacked.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: mecch on December 01, 2008, 04:50:16 pm
I pay 2000+ USD equivalent a month in Geneva Switzerland for Reyataz Norvir Truvada combo, combined. Insurance kicks in to cover it all, AFTER 900 USD equivalent deductible a year. I find that deductible pretty steep. 

Its all new to me. Thank god for the meds, though, whatever the cost, and that somehow I can afford them..  as I lost bfs to miserable deaths with AIDS before todays treatments existed......

Curious how a first world country like Australia pays such lower prices to the pharms....
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: John2038 on December 01, 2008, 05:34:00 pm
mecch

Accordingly to what I know, in Switzerland, an insurance cost typically 300$ a month for a 350$ franchise.
In more, you have to pay 10% of your meds but no more than I think something like 500$ a year.
So for a poz, the insurance cost around 400$ per month, all include, meds+doc+labs+ etc

So I don't know what you are talking about.
Are you living and working in Switzerland with a work permit, or just living there ?
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: J.R.E. on December 01, 2008, 07:21:42 pm
Sorry to butt in here, but J.R.E. are you saying that you have to pay US$2.192.17 each month for your meds?  Do you receive any money back from the government or Health insurance?  If I have read that properly then I am absolutely gob-smacked.


No...., I do not pay those prices because I have insurance through work. My medications cost $30.00 each, per month,  with Epzicom going up to $50.00 in January.  But if there was no insurance, and no other means to pay for the meds, the prices I listed are what is being currently charged. These prices are exactly the retail prices as listed today 12/01/08,  on the Walgreen prescription receipts.

With the insurance I currently have, Doctor visits are $ 30.00 per visit. To see a specialist, $45.00. Hospital Emergency room is $100.00 ( co-pay) All blood tests are currently paid for by insurance. I am also fortunate enough to have additional out of pocket insurance that would help pay for hospital stays. If that was the case.



And drugs are on a tier lever. With three tiers , those being $10.00/ $30.00/ and $50.00 . An example of cost,... My partner is HIV negative, 57 years of age and in good health. He was notified last week, that his private insurance, is going up to around $650.00 per month.  The only way he can decrease this cost, is to raise the deductable. But he started doing some shopping around today, to see if he can get a better deal.
His insurance is currently at 505.10 per month.

This is why we need a health care plan in this country. People still can loose eveything due to health issues and hospital and/or medication cost. Whether one is HIV positive or not, it's affecting everyone.


Take care----Ray
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: mecch on December 02, 2008, 04:59:20 am
mecch

Accordingly to what I know, in Switzerland, an insurance cost typically 300$ a month for a 350$ franchise.
In more, you have to pay 10% of your meds but no more than I think something like 500$ a year.
So for a poz, the insurance cost around 400$ per month, all include, meds+doc+labs+ etc

So I don't know what you are talking about.
Are you living and working in Switzerland with a work permit, or just living there ?

Its a bit more than 300 a month for the cheapest insurance. It depends a LOT on the Canton (state).  The franchise is 300 to thousands, depends on your plan.  You pay 10% of meds up to 700.  After that, its free. So, 300 franchise plus 700 (10% of the first 7000) makes 1000...  Is that what I said??

Yep, after that, all is free. (Just pay your monthly insurance). Yep, including doc and labs. 
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: John2038 on December 02, 2008, 08:13:56 am
Hi mecch

2 questions about the swiss private insurance if I may ask:

1) do they cover new treatments ?
Eg let say your doc want to prescribe you isentress + drv/r + intelence

2) If yes, then just the cheapest private insurance will be fine. Is it correct ?
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: mecch on December 02, 2008, 03:11:41 pm
2 questions about the swiss private insurance if I may ask:
1) do they cover new treatments ?
Eg let say your doc want to prescribe you isentress + drv/r + intelence
2) If yes, then just the cheapest private insurance will be fine. Is it correct ?

I am not an expert in Swiss Insurance or Swiss Insurance covering HIV/AIDS because I am new to both... Two weeks ago I asked my ID who is famous and a big cheese to switch me from Sustiva to Isentress and he declined, saying not enough research has been done and he knows Reyataz very well and it would suit me...  I asked him several weeks ago to step up my labs for awhile, cause my experience of sero conversion was so unnormal (little natural ability to control virus) and he said he wouldnt and couldnt because he had to follow protocal otherwise insurance wouldn't cover the labs, and he didnt see anything in his opinion that needed closer monitoring... 

So, I don't think Swiss docs have carte blanche, for coverage.

All insurance is private, in Switzerland. If one is too poor to pay, one proves it (poverty) and gets government assistance to pay.  That is more or less what Hillary proposed when Bill gave her that job way back.

Now, to answer your questions -

If the med is on the approved list, and for the patient need, then every policy pays for it - basic cheapo policies to luxury policies...  Atripla is not on the list yet, for example... Truvada/Sustiva yes.

Basic insurance is a civil right, no one can be refused by any company....  Overall, people with HIV/AIDS have good care and, if they have swiss level salaries, its reasonably priced... 

I don't know if Switzerland could afford UTT -- universal testing and treatment.  Because it pays top retail price for the drugs, like the USA does. This is, I assume, because big pharma is big business in Switzerland...  One gets the prescription when the doctor decides its medically warranted...  Pretty much the same as in States, for insured people, isn't that correct?

If the treatment trend is to earlier treatment, or if the drugs get so good that treatment at seroconversion makes sense again, I wonder what countries will be able to do it?  I tend to think it would be, oddly enough, developing countries that are willing to break patents... Can't see the Swiss or the Americans forking over all that dough, or breaking their own pharma companies....  Maybe more socialised Euro states?  Maybe Brazil or Thailand or India? China?


Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: John2038 on December 02, 2008, 08:36:14 pm
Hi mecch,

thanks for the insights !

FYI, since May 1st 2008, Truvada is covered by the Swiss insurance, but still not Isentress and Darunavir.
However, Isentress having a competitive price, your insurance might accept a derogation if your ID doc is asking for that.

John
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: mecch on December 04, 2008, 11:18:22 am
Thanks. He wouldnt even consider Isentres. Didn't even want to switch me to anything, when i asked recently.  Makes a big deal about Atripla coverage coming soon, like its a big difference - 1 pill instead of 2. hehe

Prices of drugs....... complicated issue!   Best regards
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: Grasshopper on December 05, 2008, 03:09:47 am
 List of approved meds and thus covered by insurance

Kostenoverzicht: Antiretrovirale middelen
 
stofnaam preparaat rekenbasis Per maand  € 200,00 (= per month ! )
 
 
abacavir Ziagen drank 20 mg/ml 600 mg € 326,13 
 Ziagen tabl. 300 mg 600 mg € 311,36 
abacavir/lamivudine Kivexa tabl. 1 tablet € 503,33 
abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine Trizivir tabl. 2 tabl. € 762,02 
amprenavir Agenerase caps. 50 mg 1200 mg € 230,19 
 Agenerase caps. 150 mg 1200 mg € 248,20 
 Agenerase drank 15 mg/ml 1800 mg € 369,94 
atazanavir Reyataz caps. 150 mg 300 mg € 473,52 
 Reyataz caps. 200 mg 300 mg € 363,77 
 Reyataz drank 50 mg/1,5 g 300 mg € 326,25 
darunavir Prezista tabl. 300 mg 1200 mg € 701,19 
didanosine Videx caps mga 125 mg 400 mg € 222,11 
 Videx caps. mga 200 mg 400 mg € 227,22 
 Videx caps. mga 250 mg 400 mg € 225,22 
 Videx caps. mga 400 mg 400 mg € 173,25 
 Videx drank 2 g 400 mg € 236,64 
efavirenz Stocrin drank 30 mg /ml 600 mg € 328,50 
 Stocrin tabl. 50 mg 600 mg € 297,35 
 Stocrin tabl. 200 mg 600 mg € 283,46 
 Stocrin tabl. 600 mg 600 mg € 283,18 
efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir Atripla tabl. 1 tabl. € 877,12 
emtricitabine Emtriva caps. 200 mg 200 mg € 210,05 
emtricitabine/tenofovir Truvada tabl. 1 tabl. € 593,94 
emtricitabine/tenofovir/efavirenz Atripla tabl. 1 tabl. € 877,11 
enfuvirtide Fuzeon inj.poed. 90 mg (+ solv.) 90 mg € 825,00 
fosamprenavir Telzir susp. 50 mg/ml 1400 mg € 408,56 
 Telzir tabl. 700 mg 1400 mg € 403,96 
indinavir Crixivan caps. 400 mg 2400 mg € 291,52 
lamivudine Epivir drank 10 mg/ml 300 mg € 215,50 
 Epivir tabl. 150 mg 300 mg € 202,38 
 Epivir tabl. 300 mg 300 mg € 210,53 
 Zeffix drank 5 mg/ml 100 mg € 85,60 
 Zeffix tabl. 100 mg 100 mg € 90,52 
lamivudine/zidovudine Combivir tabl. 150/300 mg 2 tabl. € 442,89 
lopinavir/ritonavir Kaletra caps. 133,3/33,3 mg 6 caps. € 474,53 
 Kaletra drank 80/20 mg/ml 2,8 ml (kind. 10 kg) € 131,76 
 Kaletra tabl. 100/25 mg 8 tabl. € 498,00 
 Kaletra tabl. 200/50 mg 4 tabl. € 494,47 
maraviroc Celsentri tabl. 150/300 mg 600 mg € 840,00 
nelfinavir Viracept tabl. 250 mg 2250 mg € 350,65 
nevirapine Viramune susp. 10 mg/ml 400 mg € 337,05 
 Viramune tabl. 200 mg 400 mg € 254,44 
raltegravir Isentress tabl. 400 mg 800 mg € 927,90 
ritonavir Norvir caps. 100 mg 1200 mg € 419,32 
 Norvir drank 80 mg/ml 1200 mg € 431,31 
saquinavir Fortovase caps. 200 mg 1800 mg € 280,30 
 Invirase caps. 200 mg 1800 mg € 280,06 
 Invirase tabl. 500 mg 1800 mg € 272,98 
stavudine Zerit caps. 20 mg 80 mg € 311,01 
 Zerit caps. 30 mg 80 mg € 263,81 
 Zerit caps. 40 mg 80 mg € 175,59 
 Zerit drank 1 mg/ml 80 mg € 259,68 
telbivudine Sebivo tabl. 600 mg 600 mg € 461,81 
tenofovir Viread tabl. 245 mg 245 mg € 382,00 
tipranavir Aptivus caps. 250 mg 1000 mg € 752,51 
zidovudine Retrovir drank 10 mg/ml 600 mg € 284,65 
 Retrovir tabl. 300 mg 600 mg € 235,93 
 Retrovir caps. 100 mg 600 mg € 271,98 
 Retrovir inf.vl. 200 mg = 20 ml 600 mg € 1.445,72 
 
Kosten gebaseerd op Z-index taxe september 2008
 

 
  zie ook 
> groepsoverzicht
> achtergrondinformatie
 
 
 
 © CVZ 2008  | naar boven | afdrukken | 
 
 
 
 
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: Grasshopper on December 05, 2008, 03:18:54 am
We do have a franchise/deductable system here in the netherlands, however it's not much at all. It amounts to a €150 per year, and if you are a chronic user of certain meds or sufferer from a specific disease it's lower resp. €103. So you NEVER have to pay more than €150/103  per year out of pocket regardless the amount of care you need.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: hivsweden on December 05, 2008, 06:28:45 pm
Here in Sweden hiv meds and care are completely free. Other meds cost a maximum of Sek 1800/yr. Usd 1 = 8.40 sek
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: John2038 on January 26, 2009, 07:03:24 am
Not HIV drug, but just to mention the price of Viagra:

Switzerland: 12 tablet 100mg CHF 260 (EUR 172 / USD 224)

South Africa: 2x4 tablets 50mg R 300 (EUR 23 / USD 30)

Thailand: 30 tablets 100mg THB 6000 (EUR 132 / USD 172)


So the per tablet 100 mg price:

Switzerland: CHF 22 / EUR 14 / USD 19

South Africa:  R 75 / EUR 6 / USD 7.5

Thailand: THB 200 / EUR 4.4 / USD 6


Cheaper to do cardio neh ?
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: sharkdiver on January 26, 2009, 08:11:16 am
Not HIV drug, but just to mention the price of Viagra:

Switzerland: 12 tablet 100mg CHF 260 (EUR 172 / USD 224)

South Africa: 2x4 tablets 50mg R 300 (EUR 23 / USD 30)

Thailand: 30 tablets 100mg THB 6000 (EUR 132 / USD 172)


So the per tablet 100 mg price:

Switzerland: CHF 22 / EUR 14 / USD 19

South Africa:  R 75 / EUR 6 / USD 7.5

Thailand: THB 200 / EUR 4.4 / USD 6


Cheaper to do cardio neh ?
HIV can mess with your "performance" at times....just wait
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: minismom on January 30, 2009, 07:05:45 am
I just wanted to throw this in.  I don't have the breakdown in front of me as to how much Mini's meds have cost in the past or cost now.  We don't get that info. since we don't pay for her meds.  But, I can tell you that at 19mths old (17mths after diagnosis) her total medical bills (doctors, tests, meds, therapists, and hospital stays) was over $1million. We're now 8 1/2yrs post-diagnosis.  I don't even want to know what the total is now.

Mum
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: a2z on January 31, 2009, 07:21:01 pm
From my Walgreens receipts (US) at the end of last year, based on the "Retail Price" on the receipt, my health insurance covers most of it.

Norvir 90 days/90 100mg capsules $962.99
Truvada 90 days/90 tablets $3179.89
Reyataz 90 days/90 300mg capsules $3012.09

$28K+ a year, it blows my mind.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: leatherman on January 31, 2009, 08:14:41 pm
in probably a once-in-a-lifetime event, all my presciptions synced up at the end of last year ;D; and my co-pays for the year were paid up and I was able to get one more re-fill before my medicare part d changed. ;) I'm sure it'll never happen again; but I got a current total for my best regimen over the last 16 yrs. I've been on these meds for about the last 6 years and these were the first to get me to undetectable. WooHoo!

smz/tmp ds, reyataz, didanosine, norvir, viread, acyclovir - for a one month supply, the total is $1903.22 paid thru Part D (Anthem) and Medicare. That's a grand total of $22,838.64 a year.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: Scotian on February 03, 2009, 05:39:09 pm
Like Sweden, in the province of Nova Scotia iin Canada all HIV meds, bloodwork and realted care is free. This includes ongoing psychologist and nutritionist consult etc.  I'm not sure if all provinces provide this. Of course, in Canada ther's a national health care program that covers all other health care. Supported by tax dollars.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: rusty.g7 on February 04, 2009, 02:32:45 am
I pay $1200 a year for my health insurance which is about 30% of the total.  Work picks up the other 70%.  My health insurance has a mail order pharmacy program for 90 day supplies.  I only pay $65 per prescription.  The insurance picks up the rest.

Prezista 600mg  $1954    I pay $65
Truvada            $2095    I pay $65
Norvir               $1198    I pay $65
Isentress          $2042     I pay $65
Sulfameth         $   27     I pay $ 0   (generics are free to me)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nexium             $ 320     I pay $65
Nadolol             $  16      I pay $ 0  (another generic)

total for year is $29,264 for the insurance company for the HIV meds

For me the total is $1040 for the drugs and $1200 for the insurance, $80 per year for the ID doctor visit co-pays, $300 deductible then after that is spent I pay 10% of the lab costs for a total of about $2800 from my pocket.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: AndyArrow on February 06, 2009, 10:52:15 am
Isentress     90day supply     $3,269.99
Truvada      90day supply     $3,242.89
Prezista       90day supply     $3,255.09
Norvir          90day supply     $1,919.99

my cost $998.00 every 90days.  Indiana medicaid sucks  >:(
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: mecch on February 07, 2009, 12:48:13 am
my cost $998.00 every 90days.  Indiana medicaid sucks  >:(
wow that is a steep copay!!!!
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: rusty.g7 on February 09, 2009, 07:22:36 pm
Andy,

I wonder why my insurance company (fed bc/bs & medco) pays about $1000 less per med than the state of Indiana and their medicaid program?

-rusty
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: AndyArrow on February 10, 2009, 12:24:16 am
mecch -- yes it is!   >:(

rusty --   Those are the retail prices printed on my Walgreens receipts the state doesn't have their own drug program.  I can get my drugs from any local pharmacy and the state picks up the cost after my spend-down amount (998).  The reason I go to that Walgreens in the first place is because that particular store is an HIV specialty pharmacy.  This could all be changing in June when I go on Medicare.

AA
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: minismom on February 12, 2009, 11:13:40 am
You all had me curious, so I did some searching for her current regiment. 

Zerit (as liquid) was about $1476/mth
Kaletra (as liquid) was about $400/mth
Sustiva (as a pill) was about $90
                                    _________
                                      $1966 / mth


Now that she's on pills and only on 2 meds, it looks like this:

Zerit  $800/mth
Kaletra $400/mth
___________________
          $1200/mth

Compared to some of your combos, she comes out pretty cheap. :-\

Mum
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: fearless on February 14, 2009, 09:36:44 pm

Curious how a first world country like Australia pays such lower prices to the pharms....

Our Government drives a hard bargain with the pharmaceutical companies before it will make a drug available to Australians under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. If a drug is covered under the PBS, we have copays in the order of what RuralOz described, although they went up marginally on 1 January and there is an annual limit to your copays - about $1100 for an individual (less, or the same for families - gay couples can now count as families for this purpose, so if two of you are on HIV meds you will pay a maximum copay over the year of about $550 each).

The drug companies hate the PBS. If your drug is not on the PBS noone will take it because of the cost, so the drug companies generally and reluctantly take the cut in price that the government will pay to have their medication available through the PBS. The drug companies have been trying to get rid of the PBS, for obvious reasons.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: Miss Philicia on February 14, 2009, 09:43:42 pm
How hard a bargain can a nation of only 20 million people "drive"?
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: alberche on February 15, 2009, 02:30:26 am
Hiya,

Here in Spain HIV meds, labs, and other medical procedures are free of cost, covered at 100% per social security system, nevertheless, at least at my hospital, they put the price of meds in the recipe, so you figure out what it costs, in my case, my meds' cost is as follows:

Reyataz (Atazanavir) 150 mg caps, 60 caps (one month supply): 444,97 € (Some 600 USD)
Truvada 30 caps (one month supply): 438,48 € (Some 580 USD)
Norvir 100 mg bottle of 84 caps (84 days supply): 65,42 EUR (some 80 USD)

So my combo costs some 910 € per month... that would be, if I had to pay for it, about 60% of my net monthly income...
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: fearless on February 16, 2009, 04:30:20 pm
How hard a bargain can a nation of only 20 million people "drive"?

Obviously quite a hard bargain if you look at the cost of HIV meds in Australia compared to the US.

But that's the point Philly. With a potential market of only 21 million people there is not much profit in it for the drug companies anyway. The drug companies either accept what the govt is willing to pay (obviously there would be some quite serious negotiations involved) and make some profit, or they don't and their drugs are not made available and they make no profit.

And, with only about 15,000 +ve folk the market for HIV meds is really quite small.

Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: Andy99 on February 16, 2009, 08:45:46 pm
All HIV medications are Free in the UK as long as you are resident. http://www.avert.org/hiv-treatment-uk.htm (http://www.avert.org/hiv-treatment-uk.htm)
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: secretgarden on February 22, 2009, 01:16:10 am
I live in IRELAND and everything is free for anyone who is resident here. I know its the same in CZECH REPUBLIC  and in SLOVAKIA. Thank got so we dont have to worry about the cost here.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: leatherman on February 22, 2009, 01:44:39 am
I don't think hiv meds are actually "free" per se in any country.
some entity (personal, insurance, gov't) is paying the cost ;)
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: secretgarden on February 22, 2009, 09:39:59 am
Yep, what I ment is that goverment bears the cost of all treatment  ;)
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: LordBerners on February 22, 2009, 10:56:33 am
All HIV medications are Free in the UK as long as you are resident.

I live in IRELAND and everything is free for anyone who is resident here. I know its the same in CZECH REPUBLIC  and in SLOVAKIA. Thank got so we dont have to worry about the cost here.

Wow, 'resident' only, not 'citizen'?  I guess it must be nearly impossible for an American to gain 'residency' though?  <just thinking>
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: RapidRod on February 22, 2009, 11:34:52 am
My medication costs per month.

Atripla 600mg/200mg  798.00
Testim 1% 50mg 289.00
BACTRIM DS TAB 800-160  54.00
LIPITOR TAB 10MG  70.42
Noxafil  3096.00
Ritalin 10mg.  39.00
Mirtazapine 15 mg. 56.20
Aspirin 81 mg  3.95

4406.57 month     
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: fearless on February 24, 2009, 08:56:32 pm
Wow, 'resident' only, not 'citizen'?  I guess it must be nearly impossible for an American to gain 'residency' though?  <just thinking>

my understanding is that anyone normally resident in the UK (and cliff and the like can/will correct me) can access free meds ie if you are working there you are covered by the NHS. They're just much more compassionate when it comes to medical treatment than a lot of other places.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: alberche on March 07, 2009, 08:43:33 pm
Residents coverage:

I think in Spain, UK, and other EU countries it is similar. In Spain all EU citizens have healthcare system coverage as if they were spaniards, so no cost for ARV meds, visits and labs for HIV+ people. In general, all meds distributed at the hospital counter are 100% covered by the NHS/Social Security. Then, meds that we can go to pick up at the pharmacies' counters, are covered up to a 60% of their cost. If you are a pensionnist or receive any kind of economic funding or help from government, then meds at the pharmacy counter are also 100% free of cost. Pharmacy meds means antifungicals, anithistaminics, and so on, the kind of meds to treat temporary health conditions.

This coverage is for spaniards and EU citizens living in Spain (in a rented or owned house). It covers workers and students also. For people from other countries, it depends. Generally speaking, all residents (people legally living in Spain) have the same rights to access public healthcare, then, with some Iberoamerican countries, Spain has special social security agreements that mean that if a person have been working in his/her country of origin, and was covered by their social security system, those years of social security are recognized in Spain and count for pensions and other kind of public aids, including retirement.

People not living "legally" are also taken care at hospitals when health conditions are acute, severe or can put in risk their life. To get them into social security and having full health care coverage is more complicated since they need to have their documents to be enabled to work "legally" and, without documents you cannot work and so on... at this point, anyway, with the mediation of NGO (ASOs) syndicates (trade unions) and other organisations, cases of people with HIV and other severe health conditions are treated and got assistance temporarilly, until their situation is solved or they are repatriated to their countries of origin.

Public healthcare system covers all meds, including new ones and those not yet approved by EMEA (FDA-like organism in Europe). But, for this last case, you must be qualified to enter in a treatment cohort, and it may take time (several months). In addition, some hospitals are more keen than others to give you newest drugs or to start treatment earlier. Due to this reason, some people (including me) goes to other hospitals than your area local ones.

It is not perfect, for sure, but it works for people with not too much money in the pocket or with no money at all. Me myself I couldn't absolutely pay for my meds, doc visits and labs, even though under a franchise system like in Switzerland or other countries.

That's more or less, the picture here.

So, I think in countries where we have strong public healthcare systems, we must fight and be vigilant to keep our helthcare systems public and working reasonabily well.

 :)

Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: elf on April 29, 2009, 03:39:59 pm
Combivir&Kaletra cost 1000 usd a month here in .HR, but I get it for free, everyone does
even those who have no med. insurance  :) HIV prevalence is 0.01% with only 1000 HIV cases,
and I was so ''lucky'' to get the virus.  :-\
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: mecch on April 29, 2009, 03:44:30 pm
And what country is that, Elf?

One month of Intelence is 800 USD pharmacy price in Switzerland.

What I finally pay is too complicated to explain again, more than European countries (free!), less than many might pay in USA.


Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: elf on April 29, 2009, 03:46:37 pm
http://tinylink.com/?TBnnnwAqDS
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: mecch on April 29, 2009, 03:56:01 pm
Wow bravo for Croatia. 
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: justaguy on April 30, 2009, 11:01:13 pm
Does anyone in the US actually pay the outrageous listed retail pricing (aside from the insurance companies, and I'm not even sure THEY really pay that much)?  The receipt for my Atripla was something like $1,800.  Yeah, the uncouth girl at the register made sure to say "THAT SURE IS A REAL EXPENSIVE MEDICINE!" as if I needed that pointed out, thanks.  While we in the US and many abroad tend to poo poo our system, from what I see on this board, anyone that wants to take the meds here can get on them - either with insurance, ADAP, etc...  They may have to pay more than the $45 I pay for mine, but there always seems to be a way for people to get on them, and I have yet to see anyone say they are paying anywhere even remotely close to retail.  Just curious.   ???
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: mecch on May 03, 2009, 05:44:48 pm
While we in the US and many abroad tend to poo poo our system, from what I see on this board, anyone that wants to take the meds here can get on them - either with insurance, ADAP, etc...  They may have to pay more than the $45 I pay for mine, but there always seems to be a way for people to get on them, and I have yet to see anyone say they are paying anywhere even remotely close to retail.  Just curious.   ???

1,000,000+ low income people use soup kitchens and food pantries in New York City alone. 

The people who get to this poz forum, online, may not be a representative example of people living precarious lives who are also HIV+.  Do they all have access to treatment? Are the afraid to get tested and does their precarious situation have anything to do with that fear?

AndyArrow says he has a 330 a month copay. Thats not chicken feed!
 
Your's is an interesting question. 

But obviously the citizens in a country are collectively paying, and drugs are priced differently in each country.

But in asking the question, I'm not comfortable with your assumption that everyone who wants the drugs get them.

I will let the citizens or residents of each country answer that one.

In Switzerland, the patient cannot OPT for drugs when he "WANTS" them, by the way.  The doctor has to decide treatment is needed.  Maybe that will change in the future. Once the doctor and the patient agree, then the patients private insurance will pay. Its not free, but manageable on swiss salaries.

If you are poor in Switzerland, you get your health insurance as a subsidy. Its not luxury living by any means, but its survival. 

Reading this forum for the last few months, I see quite a few American posters saying that they live on extremely tight budgets, especially if they are on disability.

Funding to pay for HAART seems percarious in several developed, rich countries. In others, there is a great safety net.  Some developing countries are doing better making sure HIV people are treated. 

And never forget that, though improving, there are hundreds of thousands (millions???) of people who need HAART who aren't getting it, all over the world. 

If all the HIV+ people in the USA who need treatment, (including the people who don't know because they haven't, won't test) then the question is - will treatment be garanteed?  By states? The federal government? Who will pay?

Pity all the wasted money (lives) on wars and weapons.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: markaj on May 19, 2009, 10:07:23 am
I knew my meds were expensive but I had no idea how much...thank God for the UK NHS

Raltegravir £647.29
Truvada £418.50
Mirtazapine 45mg £15.35
Pegasys £528.24
Copegus £462.47
Olanzapine 5mg £48.78

Monthly total £2120.63 or $3275.54
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: BM on May 19, 2009, 04:11:21 pm
I knew my meds were expensive but I had no idea how much...thank God for the UK NHS

Raltegravir £647.29
Truvada £418.50
Mirtazapine 45mg £15.35
Pegasys £528.24
Copegus £462.47
Olanzapine 5mg £48.78

Monthly total £2120.63 or $3275.54

Where did you get your info from?
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: minismom on May 19, 2009, 10:50:03 pm
I just picked up Mim's 2nd refill of Epzicom.  The pharmacy left the price tag on the box: $944.86 for 30 pills (1 month supply).  I just about fainted!

Mum
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: markaj on May 20, 2009, 03:00:46 am
BM I got those figures from The British National Formulary...

http://www.bnf.org/bnf/

Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: BM on May 20, 2009, 07:31:41 am
BM I got those figures from The British National Formulary...

http://www.bnf.org/bnf/

Thanks!

Isentress: £647.29
Viread: £255.00
Reyataz: £315.69
Norvir: £94.35

Monthly total: £1312.33. As you say, thanks God for the NHS!
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: OneMoreGuy on May 23, 2009, 12:14:05 pm
If one reads various earlier postings from people living in the USA, one will see that there are many who have gone bankrupt having to pay for their medical costs. I have read in this Forum plenty of stories of people having to sell all their assets and moving into low income housing or with a family member because they could no longer afford to pay for their meds and their room and board. Financial support for HIV patients also seems to vary by State in the USA, so not every State in the Union offers the same amount of government benefits to HIV patients.

To make matters worse for many Americans, there are millions of uninsured in the USA and insurance companies in America have the right to decline applications from people with pre-existing medical conditions and if someone decides to lie on their insurance application, the insurance company has the legal right to eventually refuse payment on medical treatment if they discover any form of fraud was made, whether it was intentional or unintentional.

In the UK, the NHS certainly makes life easier for anyone needing medical attention.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: aztecan on May 23, 2009, 01:23:20 pm
I started Isentress and Truvada today and was calculating the copays for the upcoming year so I can accurately set aside enough in my flex account to cover it.

My copays in the coming 12 months will be approximately $3,100.

HUGS,

Mark

Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: secretgarden on July 04, 2012, 07:47:49 pm
Wow, 'resident' only, not 'citizen'?  I guess it must be nearly impossible for an American to gain 'residency' though?  <just thinking>
Yes, once you live here you can avail of free treatment.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: northernguy on July 06, 2012, 02:49:20 am
Since I posted this elsewhere I'll add it here.  Med coverage varies in Canada by province.  British Columbia pays the full cost.

Viramune XR = $74.07
Truvada = $798.88
Total = 872.95

Atripla = $2,417.98

Now, what I find interesting is that I've switched to the original 200 mg formulation of Viramune and the cost is $296 for 30 days vs. $74.07 for the newer Viramune XR!  Is Boehringer lowballing the retail cost of XR, to get docs to use it instead of regular Viramune, which is going generic? 
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: songs06 on July 06, 2012, 05:28:04 am
TURKEY

for my treatment:

Truvada 1074,94 TL - 477.82 Euro
        to goverment: 725,58 TL - 322.53 Euro
Kaletra 805,37 TL - 358 Euro
        to goverment: 543,62 TL - 241.64 Euro

others:
Combivir 650,16 TL - 289.0 Euro
Trizivir (Abakavir + Lamivudin + Zidovudin) 1009,65 TL - 448.80 Euro
Viread 413,25 TL - 183.69 Euro
Stocrin 145,45 TL - 64.65 Euro
Norvir 629,32 TL - 279.74 Euro

so FINAL CONCLUSION: prices are too high for low-middle income country like TURKEY. It looks like Truvada is more expensive in Turkey than United Kingdom. This is quite like a joke.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: Rockin on July 09, 2012, 06:55:44 pm
Wow...I knew medication was expensive but I never dreamed it was THAT much.

I live in Brazil and I consider moving to another country, as long as I could afford it and get a proper job position and all.

But now I realize that this might be quite difficult  :-\.
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: Valmont on August 09, 2012, 07:42:19 pm
In Ecuador,

HAART meds are given for free (but these years we had many shortage moments...) by public system.  The over hand is that the attention is the minimum (no resistance test are done here), checking each 6 months, labs only for the really important things, CD4 or VL labs can takes some weeks because of lack of reagents or problem with equipment, and so on...  Anyway, I think system here is no so bad...  I΄m very happy no to pay anything in regards to my HIV infection (except a resistance test done a few weeks ago)...

I receive Efavirenz + Tenofovir/Emtricit in two pills, from a Indian labs...


VIRADAY is available for USD 168,48 for 30 tabs, but the private importador has not all the time...
ISENTRESS, from MERCK costes USD 800 for 30 tabs (with a friendly price...).  It is not considered as an option for first line here because of the cost...

I hope my body will be ok with Efavirenz for a long time...

It is incredible to see that we have better conditions here than in high income countries...
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: mecch on August 10, 2012, 05:04:35 pm
Merck sorts the world into 4 categories. Ecuador is on second lowest list - "Lower Middle Income Countries".
http://www.merckresponsibility.com/downloads/New-2011-country-classiffication.pdf

I'm surprised that is the price for Isentress in Ecuador! That sucks!  I think its 60 USD a month for the countries on the lowest list - "access countries".
Title: Re: HIV Treatments: price per country
Post by: Valmont on August 13, 2012, 01:01:51 am
Thanks for the info Mecch...   Well maybe it is because of our health system... 

Health system buy ISENTRESS and use it in some situation, they may have it in the condition you refears to.

My doc told me that it is not here a first line option, but that It can be bought directly to the brand, in a private negociation...  We called the representant together to consider availability in the country and the cost...  He doesn΄t know anyone who bought it by his own (anyway, he only knew one people who bought VIRADAY by his own... 

If everything goes good at it does now, I΄ll be the second because I don΄t want to be exposed to meds storage we sometimes have here, and my hospital gives me 3 to 5 days meds extra one time for a time, I would feel quieter with always an extra bottle at hope as a reserve of each drug...)

These costes in regards to the country are still quite hight, our minimun salary is around USD 300 a month...