To think I can get my medication out here?

[aussierules2]

I’m currently in Australia for 6 months and stupidly I didn’t think about medication. I’m currently on Sertraline and only have 2 weeks worth left.

Is it possible to have them prescribed here? I have evidence on my NHS app, can I show this to a chemist?

I imagine you’ll need an Australian script, so I’d suggest you make an appointment to see a GP.

Phone a doctor and make an appointment.

Can I claim this through holiday insurance?

You will need to contact a GP. But how can you not have thought about your meds? They are the first thing I think of prior to going on holiday- have I got enough to last me?

I doubt it as it's not an emergency and there will be an excess anyway but it will say in the insurance policy won't it?

You could look into the reciprocal agreement.

www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/reciprocal-health-care-agreements-visiting-from-united-kingdom?context=22481

Will your insurance cover you forgetting your medication?

What does it say in your policy?

Very unlikely your insurance will cover it, insurance is for the unforeseen, you should have planned ahead.

Well actually my GP only gave me 8 weeks worth at a time anyway, so it’s not like I “forgot to bring it all”. I would’ve needed to top up here anyway.

This is not helpful.

Or you could have mentioned to your GP that you’re away for 6 months and they could have altered their prescription. If you email your GP they could potentially email your prescription and get it filled at the pharmacy there ( maybe) - but paying privately presumably. I’d ask in a pharmacy if this would work.

I don't know what the solution is, but in your shoes i would pop in to a pharmacy to ask their guidance on how this kind of problem is managed.

Make an appt with a GP, get an Australian script. You probably will have to pay the full fee for the GP and the full fee for the sertraline.

It shouldn't be too expensive. I had to pay full price for sertraline in various countries. GP appointment is usually around £100, pharmacy dispensing and medication was £2.50 in Nepal, £12 in Ireland and £100 in China.

I doubt you could get 4 months of medication by showing an NHS app to a pharmacist when your home GP only does 8 weeks at a time. I think registering with a GP is the only way to go with this.

The first part of your post would have been the best solution. The second part doesn't even work between Ireland and NI since Brexit due to the GP not being registered in the "foreign" country.

As someone else has said there is a reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and the Uk.
If you get the Medicare card you should be able to see a bulk billing GP free though depending on where you are this may be hard to find.
Otherwise just pay a GP and pay for the meds which you will have to do anyway.

I don’t think (?) your holiday insurance will cover you for a 6 month trip to Australia so what’s your plan if you need any other healthcare in that time? Do you qualify for Medicare through the UK/Aus reciprocal agreement?

If not then I think you’ll need to pay privately to see a Dr to get it prescribed and then pay for the meds.