I read an article by Lew Rockwell that hits home for me here in Russia. I have, as you know if you read the blog often, had 6 heart attacks. This means that I take prescription drugs that require a prescription from a doctor. That is if I still lived in America…
The American pharmaceutical system is a highly controlled apparatus for restricting access to much-needed drugs and violating the rights of those who want to purchase them. This has long been true. Read More at : Lew Rockwell…
So while on my latest visa run to get a Russian visa. I ran into a situation that required me to have to purchase more medications to replace the medications that I ran out of. In Russia this is not a problem and as it turns out in Ukraine it is not a problem also. I was able to just stop at any drug store in Ukraine and pick up what I needed. Minus a prescription…
90% of my medications are mandatory prescriptions in America. But in Russia and Ukraine, not a single medication that I take is under a prescription policy. That is not to say that Russia does not have a prescription policy at all, but they relate those policies to depressant, narcotic and mood altering type drugs that really can cause issues. They do not relate to standard medicines that enable you to live a life free of hassles by the Big Pharma Companies…
Lets take several examples: I use Coreg – I take it everyday day in day out and most likely will take it the rest of my life. It really helps me and when I accidentally miss a dose, I have issues. Of course I use the version of Coreg that is sold in Russia but it is the exact same drug that is sold in America. Next I use Kardiket and this is my life saver drug. Without it I am on nitro pills or spray by the end of the day. I also take three types of diabetes pills and they are all prescriptions in America. Here in Russia or Ukraine, I just tell them that I need 850 ml pills of Glucophage and I am on my way in a few minutes…
So these medications are very important to me and they have consequences if I stop taking them suddenly. In America you have to have a prescription before any of these medications could be bought by you. In Russia or Ukraine I just go ask for what I need and walk home happy. No prescription, no doctor visit, no hassles and no stress…
Now while the freedom of no issues to get prescription drugs is great. The real blessing is the cost. In Ukraine it cost me 5 hryvnia for a week supply of Kardiket. That is about .75 cents a week to take that pill or lets say, $39 a year in American money. Can we say stress free cost? Also in Russia or Ukraine they are not use to selling these heart medications by the box. I usually purchase the whole box of 30 or 60 when I buy them, but most people just buy themselves a weeks worth at a time. In fact you can purchase even just one pill at a time if you so desire… (Make a daily trip to the drug store your habit…)
So after I read the Lew Rockwell article I realized that I resemble that article… 🙂
Kyle and Sveta
at Windows to Russia!