Riopan is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug that anyone can buy for stomach pain relief. Docs prescribe it, but the prescription is almost meaningless because it is not reimbursable. So the prescription only serves as a doc→pharmacist communication so the patient gets the right stuff.

20 sacs (10ml ea.) of Riopan is €8.95. Thus 45 €cents/dose. Bit pricey, no? So I checked a few places. All the same price and one pharmacist said the price is controlled on Riopan. No pharmacist can legally charge less than €8.95.

Yet this stuff is non-reimbursible. WTF? If a doc prescribes something, it means the patient needs it. If it’s needed, why would it not be covered?

At the same time, what’s the point in a price control on something that is unnecessary? This is bizarre, no? If medicine is needed, sure price controls make sense in a socialised medicine context to ensure equal access. But if it’s not reimbursable, it’s therefore treated as not needed, yet there are price controls which seem to worsen the deal for consumers on something like this due to lack of competition. It seems like an incoherent combination of disadvantages to consumers.

Also bizarre that despite being an openly accessible OTC drug, they don’t put Riopan on the shelf. You have to ask the pharmacist for it as if it needs some kind of controlled supervision/nannying. What is that about?

Does it make sense to buy Riopan or other drugs in neighboring countries? Obviously not worth a trip for Riopan but I just wonder if I happen to visit NL, DE, or FR, are there any OTC drugs I should buy.