Different pharmacy policies?

Question

Hi, I was always confused by this:
why in a US pharmacy I have to always wait at least 15 min, while in, say Germany or Czechia, they give me the same medication in few seconds. And why do they always repackage it in US - for example in Germany I get Zyrtec in the original packaging, in U.S. I get it in a plastic box. To me this seems dangereous (it is more likely the pharmacist will do an error than a machine in the pharmaceutical company) and it takes time and it costs money. Why is it done this complicated way in U.S.?

Thanks for all the answers. I fully understand the insurance thing - say in Czechia, all the insurers have the same rules, deductible, etc. and if you are from another country, you just pay in full and then deal with the insurance yourself.

However, I am not sure about the safety. When I buy, say the Zyrtec, in Czechia/Germany, I can get 7, 30, 50 or 90 tbls per package, so I get exactly what I need. And the package comes with detailed instructions from the manufacturer. In U.S. the instructions are always very sketchy and general.

With the interactions/allergies it is similar - in U.S. it is handled by the pharmacist, in Czechia by the doctor (moreover, most practitioners over there keep all records in a computer, that checks basic interactions, allergies for them when the prescription is printed).

Answer 1

as for why the labelling (box vs. vial). We would use them in the States if they made them. They don't....not on Zyrtec anyway. We try to use 30 or 90 count packaging whenever possible for the aforementioned safety reasons that you brought up.

We require more than a few seconds here in the States because their are federal labelling requirements that are not required in other countries. We have to put your name, the name of the medication, the quantity and directions, the date the Rx was written, the doctor's name, and the date it was filled. Computer entry to generate a label still takes time. And of course we have to bill it to your insurance which is not an issue overseas.

You're right it does cost time and money, but safety is actually better here. Let me tell you why. When you can just 'grab it' and hand it to them there is no double checking. Say you went in for the Zyrtec, but instead they grabbed you prepackaged Zyprexa (right next to the Zyrtec). Both are 10 mg, both are taken once a day, and of course your Czach or German pharmacist didn't discuss the medicine with you (another very good US requirement) so you just take it.

We are also required to perform checks here to make sure there aren't any interactions with your existing meds, or interference with your allergies, if you have them. That also takes times and doesn't happen where you described.

Answer 2

Most of the wholesale drug bottles have more tablets than what you need for a month. So, we just give you what you need.
One of the biggest time killers, an issue Germany and the Czech Republic doesn't have, is insurance claims. If the claim is initially accepted it doesn't take long, but if it not, it might take a while to get it approved.
It also takes time to verify the prescription. You have to make sure there are no drug-drug interactions.
Also, there is a serious pharmacist shortage, and that is not helping things.

Answer 3

i have never lived anywhere except the us
so i really do not know