Access to antidepressant drug(s) in South African health-care system
February 26, 2019 11:07 PM Subscribe
I'm going to start my work as a research fellow in Cape Town, South Africa soon. I have depression and is currently prescribed a medication. How can I ensure access to refills regularly?
Currently, I am told by my psychiatrist to maintain 150 mg/day dosage of Sertraline, an SSRI antidepressant. In my country, psychiatrist care and medications are accessed from specialist hub hospitals for mental health, rather than GP referral.
As I'm about to start my new job in South Africa, I understand that the health-care regime is based on a GP system, from where referral to specialists may start depending on the GP's evaluation. I have no previous experience with their health-care system.
My question is this: How are prescriptions of the antidepressant handled in the South African health care system? Can I obtain, from either a GP or a Specialist, a sort of "long-standing" prescription, valid for (let's say) a few months, that can allow me to refill at pharmacies or dispensing GPs, without me having to be referred to a Specialist each time? I understand that recurring examinations by a Specialist are likely necessary, but I don't expect those to be frequent, as my condition is fairly stable now.
Also a related question: I'm otherwise young and physically healthy, not affected by chronic conditions except depression. However, it seems that any health insurance schemes there that cover my condition would be rather expensive. Those policies typically include a broad coverage of chronic conditions, most of which I don't foresee a need. For one like myself, what suggestion would you give in terms of health insurance selection/budgeting?
Thank you very much in advance.
Currently, I am told by my psychiatrist to maintain 150 mg/day dosage of Sertraline, an SSRI antidepressant. In my country, psychiatrist care and medications are accessed from specialist hub hospitals for mental health, rather than GP referral.
As I'm about to start my new job in South Africa, I understand that the health-care regime is based on a GP system, from where referral to specialists may start depending on the GP's evaluation. I have no previous experience with their health-care system.
My question is this: How are prescriptions of the antidepressant handled in the South African health care system? Can I obtain, from either a GP or a Specialist, a sort of "long-standing" prescription, valid for (let's say) a few months, that can allow me to refill at pharmacies or dispensing GPs, without me having to be referred to a Specialist each time? I understand that recurring examinations by a Specialist are likely necessary, but I don't expect those to be frequent, as my condition is fairly stable now.
Also a related question: I'm otherwise young and physically healthy, not affected by chronic conditions except depression. However, it seems that any health insurance schemes there that cover my condition would be rather expensive. Those policies typically include a broad coverage of chronic conditions, most of which I don't foresee a need. For one like myself, what suggestion would you give in terms of health insurance selection/budgeting?
Thank you very much in advance.
Response by poster:
posted by socketophylakes at 10:19 PM on February 27, 2019
> This is a GP-led service in SAThanks!! This is very helpful.
posted by socketophylakes at 10:19 PM on February 27, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
You definitely need insurance to be able to avoid the public health system but you don't need insurance to cover mental health; your out of pocket drug costs will be tiny as drug prices are regulated and Sertreline will be about $16 a month, and the GP visits to re-up about twice that.
posted by DarlingBri at 4:51 AM on February 27, 2019 [2 favorites]