Not around here, at least. Most of the Doctors here are Rx happy, maybe that's part of the reason there are three pharmacies here and sixteen in Martigny (yes, I'm aware they sell more than just drugs, but still).
Not sure why you groaned at my other post, but it is hard to believe this kind of thing goes on so blatantly, maybe you are just skeptical. But I find it odd that someone going in for a sprained ankle on holiday should be asked back for a battery of tests for unrelated issues, not even having benefited from a general consultation first. Often they are fitted with a cast for a sprain and similar outrages.
I drove a stranger there once against my own wishes (his was the only cabinet open, during summer, they rotate Sundays out of high season), after an accident at the swimming pool. I watched him go into shock at the reception while waiting for his wife to come down with a credit card before they would even admit him. I had at first recommended driving him straight to the hospital in Martigny or calling the ambulance to do the same, but he was confused from the hit on the head and I decided it was better to bring him to the clinic instead so his family could show up. I've spoken to a lot of people here and most had similar stories- this is a small town and word gets around. Expats and tourists tend to get soaked while he behaves differently with local families that have been using him for years.
True, i had major surgery, general anesthetic and got nothing stronger than ibuprofen. It was fine though.
It also occurs tome that doctors near borders or touristy places probably do ask for payment first, and certainly there are crap doctors here, like everywhere. But i've seen mostly good ones.
I have little direct experience to base a judgment on outside of here, which is not your typical village with an indigenous population of 2000 and up to 25 000 more during high season, but I have spoken to a lot of people through work and such in other areas in Romandie and they tended to agree that drugs were prescribed easily and plentifully whenever possible, especially antibiotics and painkillers, which I find a bit scary.
Again, this is all anecdotal, I'm sure there are figures out there and it would be interesting to compare frequency of drug prescriptions between different countries.
Doctors here are as good as anywhere else which means you can find someone professional or someone interested in your cash only to book more appointments. One time I had several appointments put just to get control checkup and we could easily do away with these unnecessary visits as it occurred later. However precise diagnosis is not something you can ignore and it shouldn't be taken easily for granted. Good health is something you will eminently end up investing in to maintain it.
IMHO, the OPs experience has more to do with an attitude. You mustn't storm into the office with arrogant attitude but rather stay calm and positive and try to describe your symptoms in most precise way not to omit anything, only when asked. Doctors preferrer to ask questions and have the patients answer them. Their job is not a gardener's one to be told how you want it to look like. They are specialists to determine what you need right there and not what you suspect or wish for to be prescribed isn't it?
Lately, I ended up at an emergency ward in cantonal hospital where I had to describe something really complicated happened to me previous night and blablabla and determine how to go about examining procedure. Embarassed, I wasn't keen on talking about it but had to try my best. We ended up writing history and within hour proceeded with tests. Bottom line, I was prescribed what I needed and it helped me. Friendly and professional staff.
Conclusion, if your attitude is improper your experience want be any better.
I hope my contribution to this thread is not seen as agreement with the OP in any way, or with the premise of their thread. Had I realized who started it I wouldn't have contributed at all for fear of being an encouragement!
I'm sorry, but I have to completely disagree with you. Getting anti-biotics and pain killers is not easy. In fact, I've heard more people complain about not being able to get them at the drop of a hat.
Not only that, but I used to have to take anti-biotics quite often as a kid. It's general practice in the US to prescribe anti-biotics for this issue. Here they do not prescribe anti-biotics for this condition and think it's unnecessary.
Never mind the anti-biotics, I couldn't even by low dose aspirin with out a prescription. 1mg dalfagan isn't available without a Rx where as in France and other countries you can get it over the counter.
It's in Verbier. Most of the Doctors here love writing scripts, no idea why. I've been here 30 years and have discussed the doctors here with many people over the years, they are usually very surprised after consultations themselves, why the subject comes up so often.
One example amongst many: I had a flatmate who had mild bronchitis and ended up with antibiotics, 14 days prescription for Valium, and two weeks of painkillers that had Codeine! I've read that antibiotics are regularly over-prescribed and that it is a big problem here as in many other countries. I'd be very glad to be proved wrong, of course.
I've seen antibiotics prescribed regularly for flu (!!), and strong painkillers and tranks for many minor injuries like sprains. Anti-inflammatories I can understand for the latter, the rest not.
I've bought regular Aspirin (ASA anyway) many times in pharmacies without a prescription, very surprised you couldn't.
I shouldn't discuss prices here because that is another can of worms. They are indefensible and there is a long way to go before they become more realistic, and this cannot be explained solely by the strong franc and costs of doing business; margins are simply much higher than anywhere else in Europe and the willingness of the Swiss to pay is the only reason for it. This is changing though due to continual government pressure and changing public attitudes.
Comparing us to France is a bit disingenious, they are drug crazy! The statistics are truly alarming- if all the drugs bought and prescribed there are really consumed that nation must be walking around drugged to the eyeballs!
What I really do like and appreciate about the system here is the importance, training, and knowledge of pharmacists in general. They are very good at making sure drug combinations prescribed are safe, their recommendations for minor ailments when consulted instead of a doctor are helpful, etc, etc.
At the risk of sounding prejudiced, the French part of Switzerland is much different to the German part in this regard. The Romands are more likely to overprescribe because that is how it is handled in France.
The Germans are overly cautious - blood tests before prescribing antibiotics is a waste of time and money. In Canada, where people can really get sick in winter, antibiotics are given on the basis of symptoms described, not on results of blood tests.
You can definitely buy Dafalgan, Aspirin and Paracetamol without a prescription here.
You'll find that even in the US, the UK and now even in France (world over really)- practice re antibiotics prescription have changed hugely over the last few years. Due to so many bugs becoming resistant, it is now clear that antibiotics should NOT be prescribed willy-nilly.
One Drop I'd change doctor if I were you. Sounds to me like Verbier GP is making a lot of money pandering to the rich foreign clientèle and raking it in. I'd have abso NO respect for a dr with such irresponsible prescribing practice.
I don't agree with your statement that "blood tests are a waste of time". If my body is fighting an infection successfully then I don't need an anti-biotic. If my immune system is weakened then maybe I need help. In England I experienced being prescribed an anti-biotic after 2 minutes in the surgery, I thought that a bit over the top.
Heavy handiness with anti-biotics and erring on the safe side doesn't help the population in the long run.
Absolutely. If it's a question of viral vs bacterial, it's important to know before prescribing. Antibiotics don't work for viral, just create more resistance.
I'm not "comparing us to France". I just didn't want to list all the different countries with more liberal otc policies.
OMG. I didn't say I couldn't get aspirin or Dalfagan without an Rx. I said I couldn't buy 100mg aspirin without a script nor Dalfagan @ 1 mg over the counter where you can in France and many other countries .
Anyway, those sorts of rules are just silly as if you can't get 1mg of something just take two 500s or if you can't get 100g aspirin just cut your 400mg in 4s. The point though I think think Swiss meds are more regulated than in other countries. Maybe that's why people see more scripts?
Since this is really all about personal observation, I'm going to have to disagree. I'm in the French part and it's not been my experience nor the people that of the people that I've discussed this with. In fact, I often find the expats complaining the doctors don't prescribe anti-biotics and what x,y,z med they can't buy over the counter, etc.
Maybe you all could give me recommendations to doctors where I can get the good drugs and all these unneeded tests.
Not had an appointment myself, but my wife went for menopausal symptoms and he just wanted to chat, practise his English, and insist we meet him and his wife socially. Same happened when I took our 7 year old to get an embedded tick from his head, so I know what she meant.
After a couple of appointments and her having very thorough blood tests etc she won't go anymore as she is not keen on over-friendly people (it's a Yorkshire thing).
Now I have to go every 3 months or so for her HRT tablets and I just put up with the chat while his nurse gets the tablets, no consultation fee!
I am sure if I ask for Sleeping tablets, Viagra or whatever, then he would just hand it over. Must be a benefit of living on a small village with no pharmacy, if only I was brave enough to take advantage.