Can you BELIEVE this???

Lulika · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 09:28 PM

As most of you know, I was recently diagnosed. I live in Beijing, China, my husband is a diplomat for an Embassy and so all our healthcare is paid outright. Everything is covered.
My doctor gave me a prescription for a meter, an Accu-Chek Active along with 50 testing strips.
I took it to the private clinic pharmacy, handed over the prescription and the pharmacist gave me the goodies. I just signed the invoice and that was that.
Then Slipperyelm asked me on here, how much these things cost in China, and at the time I had no idea but said I would check it out.
This morning I was at the pharmacy again and decided to look how much a meter and strip cost. I was shocked...

The meter costs 1,450 yuan (THAT' $200 )The test strips cost 550 yuan for 50 (THAT'S $76 )
Can you imagine? Luckily, I don't have to pay anything as it's all covered but it just shows how ex-pats working here are charged WAY over the odds...what kind of profit are they making??
I asked the pharmacist how much a Chinese person would pay at a regular non- private Chinese clinic. He told me the meter would be free and the strips...$10!

Unbelievable!

R2112 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 09:42 PM

WOW... that's expensive and it's probably made there too?

I got sick last October while working at our factory in Guangzhou. It was the sickest I've been in years. I ended up having to go to a small hospital to get checked out. Having the doctor check me out and all of the antibiotics plus some food cost about 1000 Renminbi ($140 US) I was shocked how inexpensive that was because they took a lot of time with me and medications were included.

jacobsam622 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R2112

WOW... that's expensive and it's probably made there too?.

I hope not It would probably contain cat

Real4 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lulika

The meter costs 1,450 yuan (THAT' $200 )The test strips cost 550 yuan for 50 (THAT'S $76 )
Can you imagine? Luckily, I don't have to pay anything as it's all covered but it just shows how ex-pats working here are charged WAY over the odds...what kind of profit are they making??
I asked the pharmacist how much a Chinese person would pay at a regular non- private Chinese clinic. He told me the meter would be free and the strips...$10!

Unbelievable!

With the Chinese health care system I expect what you say is true with one exception. Those cost likely are for a Chinese meter and strips not for imported ones. (Even though, in some cases the meter and strips might have been made in China. If they are re-imported - very expensive.)

R2112 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacobsam622

I hope not It would probably contain cat

What's wrong with cat...there high in protein and low on carbs

(JK)

Lulika · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 09:58 PM

The meter is made is Germany and so are the test strips

But most things are made in China these days!

Dave, I think the reason you didn't pay too much in Guangzhou is probably because Beijing, being the capital is always alot more expensive, and secondly, you probably went to a Chinese hospital. The reason these private clinics can get away with this is because 99% of their clients are either diplomats or corporate clients whose insurance pays out unconditionally.

Cyborg · #7 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 03:58 PM

I went for a job interview in Huntsville, AL at a company called Sanmina about 2 months ago. Being there for a job related to military communications, I did not expect to find that they make the Accu-Chek meters. I actually saw the manufacturing facility while I was there...

alicat61 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacobsam622

I hope not It would probably contain cat

Do you know my husband !!! (He is alway going on about Chineese food being full of cat and Dog

adiantum · #9 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 05:47 PM

I'm often gobsmacked at the prices others have to pay for test strips.
I only pay $1 for 100 strips
This is probably because I'm on a low income being
retired & on a governement pension which

Scrabblechick · #10 (**permalink**) 03-23-2008, 09:05 PM

Yo, Cyborg! I live about 30 miles from Huntsville! Very cool that you interviewed there.

Didn't know they made the Accu-Check meters there, though. Of course, they make a LOT of stuff in HSV that no one knows about. LOL.

parrotletzoo · #11 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alicat61

Do you know my husband !!! (He is alway going on about Chineese food being full of cat and Dog

Geh! that's just ethnocentric! I live in the US and one of my favorite pizza places in college was eventually shut down by the health department. Why? cats and dog carcasses in the freezer.

Best durned pizza I ever ate!

Moral of the story, unless you kill it, you can't really be sure and country of origin has little to do with it.

MaireC · #12 (**permalink**) 03-24-2008, 01:08 PM

I had to pay 68 euro for 50 strips when I was originally diagnosed before my application for a Long Term Illness book went through, which took nearly three months. Thankfully the meter was free from the diabetic clinic and I was lucky enough that my doctor had the foresight to also apply for my blood pressure meds on the application form, otherwise I would be up a muddy coloured creek without a paddle. I think that anything to do with Diabetes is expensive unless you have decent insurance or a government willing to have a half decent system like we do.