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Debt-Hit Greece 'Running Out Of Medication'
SKY ^ | 5-25-12 | Jason Ferrell

Posted on 05/29/2012 10:19:11 AM PDT by tcrlaf

Pharmacies in Greece were on strike earlier this week in protest at the government not paying them for medicines that should be free to customers.

Many pharmacies now have huge debts to pharmaceutical companies for drugs they have handed out free of charge.

Sky News spoke to one pharmacist who has not been paid by the state for over a year. Evaggelina Rousi, who runs a chemist in Athens, said: "The government owes us 30,000 euros but we have not been paid by them for a year and a half.

Many people who rely on regular medication are at risk. "How can we survive like this? We can't take it anymore." The shop has stopped re-stocking its shelves and now only orders new drugs once a customer comes in with a prescription.

SNIP---

The Catsoula family, who live in the suburbs of Athens, are at breaking point. The two sisters and their elderly grandparents need various forms of medicine. Seventy-year-old Heleni Catsoula uses oxygen to help her with respiratory problems.

But she told Sky News: "The government reimburses me for the 100 euros I pay for the oxygen, but now they have stopped. They also used to pay the chemists for my drugs but they have stopped.

"Now I owe my local chemists 400 euros and I find it difficult to get my medication. If I have an attack, I don't even have petrol in the tank to get to the hospital. And nor can I afford the five euro entry fee."

The five euro hospital entry fee was a recent austerity measure introduced by the last government.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banksters; crisis; eu; goldmansachs; greece; imf; medicine; socialism
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A glimpse in to YOUR FUTURE UNDER OBAMACARE, folks.... Isn't the Great Socialist Utopia of Next Tuesday(tm) just WUNNERFUL?
1 posted on 05/29/2012 10:19:21 AM PDT by tcrlaf
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To: tcrlaf

this collection of dirtbags, formerly the proud anti-Communist people of Greece, need to go back to working for a living and start from scratch.


2 posted on 05/29/2012 10:26:17 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: tcrlaf
Many pharmacies now have huge debts to pharmaceutical companies for drugs they have handed out free of charge.

This 'Captain Obvious' moment is actually a mystery to these folks.

3 posted on 05/29/2012 10:28:22 AM PDT by tbpiper
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To: tcrlaf

Perhaps a few million doses of “soma” and nobody will care about anything.


4 posted on 05/29/2012 10:28:52 AM PDT by mkmensinger
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To: mkmensinger

Maybe they should sell some of their islands? They seem shocked that other-peoples’ money isn’t limitless. Are all socialists this clueless?


5 posted on 05/29/2012 10:34:52 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: tbpiper

Yeah, and also welcome to the State of Obama where MEDICAID has been stiffing pharmacies for years now. Perpetually late on payments to the folks who dispensed those ‘free’ drugs to the ‘needy’, they have forced most of the old independent pharmacies out of business. Guess way too many did not believe what we learned in Econ 101 - there is no such thing as a free lunch.


6 posted on 05/29/2012 10:35:51 AM PDT by RonInNaples
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To: tcrlaf

This is why I simply cannot understand why someone would go into the medical profession right now. Unless you are a total maroon, you have to KNOW you will be working for the government.

At least before the fall.


7 posted on 05/29/2012 10:38:50 AM PDT by freedomlover (Make sure you're in love - before you move in the heavy stuff)
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To: tcrlaf

For infections just pour a little Ouzo on the wound and bind grape leaves around the injury to prevent infection.

Ouzo is a miraculous medicine. If you drink enough of it you’ll remove the danger of gallstones, kidney infections and most cancers.

Grape leaves used as a kind of poultice is good for any type of infection, save lead poisoning.


8 posted on 05/29/2012 10:45:02 AM PDT by IbJensen (If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed)
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To: tcrlaf

I used to work for Boeing in Seattle. Back about 15 years ago there was a saying: Subcontractors can go broke waiting for Boeing to pay them.

Looks like the same thing is happening in Greece regarding the government.


9 posted on 05/29/2012 10:47:35 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: tcrlaf

Where’s that great actress Melina Mecuri when she’s desperately needed by whatever government Athens comes up with?

Also, Ariana Huffingpost should depart immediately for Greece where her unique talents can be put to good use by the Greek government.

Greece’s economy and exports are beginning to soar. Last month they shipped two crates of olive oil, one crate of wine, some sheep cheese and several cases of Ouzo.


10 posted on 05/29/2012 10:48:06 AM PDT by IbJensen (If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed)
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To: tcrlaf
The five euro hospital entry fee was a recent austerity measure introduced by the last government.

Oh those poor Greeks. They now have to pay $6 US to go to the hospital. Someone needs to do a satire of those "motivational" posters this time using the Margaret Thatcher's saying 'The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money'.

11 posted on 05/29/2012 10:51:15 AM PDT by C19fan
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To: tcrlaf

That segment of idiot doctors out there who actually think their lives will get easier under single payer, take note.

At least when my grandfather the pharmacist went without payment it was because he was opting to take care of a needy person out of the goodness of his heart. And that was never 100% of his clientele.


12 posted on 05/29/2012 10:52:37 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: tcrlaf

electing socialists has consequences


13 posted on 05/29/2012 10:55:20 AM PDT by xp38
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To: IbJensen
>"Ouzo is a miraculous medicine.

So is absinthe.

Gotta be the licorice.

14 posted on 05/29/2012 10:57:43 AM PDT by rawcatslyentist ("Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one," Jeremiah 50:31)
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To: tcrlaf

People have to learn the lessons of Communism over and over again, happy as little parasites until there is nothing left. Greeks thought the EU would be their new host, but that isn’t working out.


15 posted on 05/29/2012 11:03:52 AM PDT by pallis
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To: IbJensen
“For infections just pour a little Ouzo on the wound and bind grape leaves around the injury to prevent infection.”

Or, for skin infections, broken bones or diseases of the eyes they could just spray some Windex on the affected area. ala “My Big, Fat, Greek Socialist Disaster” Oompa!

16 posted on 05/29/2012 11:38:26 AM PDT by Towed_Jumper (There are only two classes of people left in the U.S. - Producers and Parasites.)
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To: Towed_Jumper

that windex thing only existed in that one movie.

The sad fact is this is going to be obamacare. The public reduced to death and amputation medicine.

The bidens will have, the people will die.


17 posted on 05/29/2012 11:44:44 AM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: tcrlaf

Solution: black market protected by the Greek mafia. Goods get in and out of the country under the protection of pirates. These will be the new Robin Hoods.
The world is upside down; the good guys will be the bad guys. Coming to a city near you.


18 posted on 05/29/2012 12:06:49 PM PDT by grumpygresh (Democrats delenda est; zero sera dans l'enfer bientot.)
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To: grumpygresh

The tax avoidance black market has jumped to 30% of the ecconomy.

There is no way for any socialism to succeed unless they resort to outright tyrany.

This is just the free market taking over in the place of failed socialism. Actually it would be more cronyism. This is a tiny country whose commercial laws have been based on “I got mine” anti competition.

Siemens knew this full well when they literally BOUGHT all the politicians in order to obtain government contracts.


19 posted on 05/29/2012 12:21:02 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: tcrlaf

Idiots.


20 posted on 05/29/2012 12:23:53 PM PDT by eyedigress ((zOld storm chaser from the west)/?)
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