[widgets]

I live in the UK, so everything is on the NHS here.
But in the USA, i know you have to pay for everything, med wise and treatment, i was reading about my new medication and it said 'marketed' in the US, i thought the word Marketed was a little strange, i was just wondering whether they like advertise prescription drugs over like "IF YOU HAVE BIPOLAR TAKE THIS!"
And where anyone can just buy whatever meds they want or whether it still needs prescribing by a doc.
AND
do u have to pay for kids to get their jabs and stuff at school? like TB and Meningitis.

[googley]

Originally Posted by widgets

I live in the UK, so everything is on the NHS here.
But in the USA, i know you have to pay for everything, med wise and treatment, i was reading about my new medication and it said 'marketed' in the US, i thought the word Marketed was a little strange, i was just wondering whether they like advertise prescription drugs over like "IF YOU HAVE BIPOLAR TAKE THIS!"

They do advertise medication in the US. They want people to go to their doctors and ask them to prescribe the medication for them.

And where anyone can just buy whatever meds they want or whether it still needs prescribing by a doc.
Yes, you still need a doc to prescribe you medication.

AND
do u have to pay for kids to get their jabs and stuff at school? like TB and Meningitis.

In most places kids don't get shots at school (though there may be some places where medical treatment is brought into the school because it is in a low income area, or some schools have health clinics). You have to go to your doctor or a clinic to get it. Whether or not you have to pay out of pocket depends on your insurance coverage. I never got the meningitis vaccine even though it was suggested because I was going to college because of the cost and it would not be covered by my health insurance, however when I needed to get my TB shot updated after stepping on a carpet tack while cleaning up flooding water, that was covered by my health insurance. The family I work for has insurance that covers their infant's shots. My current insurance does not cover the flu vaccine. So it really depends.

I hope this helps.

[dragonfly2]

Yes, they do advertise prescription drugs here, both in magazines and on television. It's usually worded in phrases such as, "If you suffer from (illness), talk to your doctor about (medicine). Doctors still need to write prescriptions, but things like strong antacids and allergy medications seem to be coming out of 'prescription-only' status and are available "over the counter".

Drug companies also market directly to the doctors and you can see everything from calendars to clocks to magnets and pens and notepads, etc, all with the drug name and logo.

As far as vaccinations, they aren't typically done at school (though they did for the recent H1N1 flu virus a couple of years ago). They are usually done at the doctor's office and are paid for by insurance or public healthcare financing (Medicaid or Medicare). Around influenza season, lots of hospitals and clinics have "flu clinics" where the public can get flu shots, usually for free.

I've always wondered how national healthcare worked. Are you able to see any doctor you want? Is everything paid for, or do you pay for certain things?

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by widgets

I live in the UK, so everything is on the NHS here.
But in the USA, i know you have to pay for everything, med wise and treatment, i was reading about my new medication and it said 'marketed' in the US, i thought the word Marketed was a little strange, i was just wondering whether they like advertise prescription drugs over like "IF YOU HAVE BIPOLAR TAKE THIS!"
And where anyone can just buy whatever meds they want or whether it still needs prescribing by a doc.
AND
do u have to pay for kids to get their jabs and stuff at school? like TB and Meningitis.

USA is what we call a "free Country" what that means is we make our own decisions. we have a government that the american people vote into office, then those government make laws for us, about us that Americans want to see become laws.

this happens on three sides. the first as a whole nation and the second with in each state and the third at the city level.

An example of how this works here is the gay and lesbian marriage.

As a whole country gay and lesbian marriage is not recognized.

each state with in this nation is going through a process of voting whether the people in each state want a gay/lesbian marriage law that will recognize their togetherness equal to that of a husband /man and wife/woman marriage. New York just became the 6th state that now recognizes gays and lesbians have the right to marry just like a traditional man and woman marriage.

On the City level some cities in america already accept gays and lesbians that have been together for a long time to be equal to what some folks call a common law marriage. they consider anyone man-woman or man-man or woman-woman to be married even if they havent been through the ceremony if they have been together at least 7 yrs.

We have laws and rules on the national level and each state is also able to make their own rules and laws about things.

Some of those laws are about medical and mental health, treatment, advertising. Some are on the national (whole country) level and each state and city also had their own way, rules and laws covering medical and mental health, treatment and advertising these things.

As a whole country -

treatment providers are allowed to advertise their self and their agencies and what treatment services for what problems they provide.

The inventors of treatment services, equipment, and medications are able to advertise their inventions.

Those marketing the medical and mental health services, equipment and medications are able to advertise.

Lawyers who take on the cases concerning malpractice, class actions against medical and mental health companies, services and medications can advertise.

On the state level each state makes their own rules and laws about these issues too. Some states do advertise on those issues I stated above and some don't.

some cities have advertising the above issues and some dont.

Do Americans have places where we can buy the medications we need.

yes those places are called pharmacies, and drug stores and grocery stores. No matter where we buy our medications whether they are on prescription or not we can choose to buy them ourselves with cash or place that cost on our insurance plans.

With in our grocery stores, department stores, drug stores and pharmacies we have our medications and other items divided up into "over the counter" or "behind the counter through a pharmacist"

Just because something is behind the counter through the pharmacist doesnt mean you need a prescription. I was traveling and on one city the condom, cigarettes, vitamins, antihistamines (allergy meds that dont need a prescription) batteries were behind the counter with the pharmacist.

Some things doctors here a prescription prescription for are not necessarily always behind the counter with the pharmacist either. my partner needed to get a prescription filled. we went to the pharmacist. he came out from behind the counter and went to the "over the counter" meds grabbed the item my partner needed and we paid for it.

so how do we know where to find everything? you ask if you cant find what you need. If you have a prescription you check with the pharmacist and they tell you whether the item you need is with them or over the counter in isle whatever.

Do Americans have free medical and mental health services like TB shors yes we do. here in america you can get free shots through free clinics or your doctors office. depending on your state and city those free places are

mobile units where doctors, dentists and other medical providers take a van out, park it in a big parking lot, you stand in line and then enter the van and recieve your shots, dental care or donate blood...some cities now even have a mobile units with the cities animal control for animals where you can take your pets to be spayed/neutered, a check up and shots for free.

Schools that have a school nurse sometimes set up clinics where you can get free shots like TB,MMR, and other childhood shots along with the flu shot.

town halls

basically any public building can be converted into a free clinic place depending on that cities/towns need for the free clinic.

I was reading somewhere how some cities/towns in america are now doing free clinics where all kinds of organizations get together for a whole day giving wrap around services for free like having in one place things like social workers, doctors, and other community agencies setting up booths so that anyone can go get free meals, free chiropractic massages, reqular massages, sign up for state services, hair cuts, fingernails done, shots and physicals, dental care, pet care, veteran services, homeless services, ...

[widgets]

I find it odd that drugs are advertised!
We have quite a 'benefits culture,' going on in the UK at the moment, lots of people choosing to stay out of work for no good reason and they get EVERYTHING free! If you work, like me, then i can go to hospital for free, any emergency treatment and register and see any doctor for free, but i have to pay £7 a month for any prescribed medicine. If i broke my leg though, or had cance or a heart attack, all treatment would be free, unless i wanted to go private.

[serafim_etal]

Originally Posted by widgets

I find it odd that drugs are advertised!

Many here in the U.S., especially those working in the medical field also feel this way! Medication advertisements and lawyer (especially medication/medical procedure related) advertisements really irritate me! I bet you could find examples on youtube, to give you an idea of what we see and hear.