BangBang57 wrote:
I have tried to explain the way this (Medicos de farmacia) works here a couple of times but I think it is such a foreign concept to most Gringos that they just do not get it. These Drs. are, as you said, different from Medical Doctors--not licensed to treat major medical problems, can not preform surgical treatments, etc. Really all they can do is prescribe meds for "minor" illnesses. I am not really very clear on just where the line is drawn since they seem to be able to prescribe most prescription meds. And, yes, I have stated several times that all 3 ED meds do actually require a script here (many guys think not since they do not have a script, never see a doctor, and yet get the meds. What they do not see is the clerk getting the pharmaceutical Dr. to sign the script when they go to the back to get the ED drug.
What really causes a problem is some farmacies have on staff farmaceutico Drs. and others do not; and some charge for the script and others do not. This charge can sometimes (especially for Gringos) double the cost of the med. For example, many guys think they are getting a real bargain for Sostenon 250 at the Farmacia up the hill from la Amistad (in front of the hospital). They are much cheaper compared to USA prices, but compared to other farmacias here they are paying right at double-- about c16ml compared to about c8ml at say Farmacia del Parque which does not charge for the script. Farmacies that do not have a "Dr." in house cannot sell script requiring meds without a script.
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I paid $17 US for a shot Sustenon250 at the pharmacy closet the COCAL. I know I got the right meds cause I watched it all. However at the pharmacy(la cumrie) up the hill from the LA there is a Tico that works there and he gave me a shot that did no good. I never got to see anything but suspect I didn't get the real thing. Every time I went in there, he always wanted a tip.