Asking about medicine fee for biologic therapy under NHS

Posted Fri 3 Sep 2021 09.56 by yuki

Hello all, I'm an international student and I will go to UK and study in Nottingham next year. I've been suffered from psoriasis and psoriasis arthritis for many years, and my doctor in my own country suggests me to use Cosentyx (secukinumab) which costs me about £200-300 for each injection. Since next year I'm going to UK, I'll pay the IHS (immigration health surcharge) and get into the NHS. So can anyone share some experience with me about the usual treatment procedure for a psoriatic patient? Can GP help me with my PsA, and give me biologic therapies? Will NHS cover the medicine cost for me (like Cosentyx or Humira), or should I buy these expensive medicines by myself and pay for them?

Posted Fri 3 Sep 2021 10.05 by lizziep (edited Fri 3 Sep 2021 10.08 by lizziep)

Hi yuld. For those of us living here, the NHS covers our treatment. However, getting to see a dermatologist consultant is the first hurdle as only they can prescribe biologics.- my GP referred me this April and I am told it will be next summer before I am seen, and I am a regular at the dermatology department. This is due to COVID. Our doctors then try many other drugs before they go to biologic treatments. I have no knowledge of whether that would be any different for someone paying a NHS surcharge or for someone with an overseas Doctor's suggestions for treatment. If you paid for them yourself privately, you would also have to pay for the monitoring blood tests etc, so it would be an expensive exercise. Your Gp is able to prescribe less specialist treatment such a s entilar foam.

Posted Fri 3 Sep 2021 10.21 by yuki

Hi Lizziep. Thanks for your rapid and warmly answers! So maybe the key point for a new arrival patient is the waiting time for switching from GP to a dermatologist consultant? I think international student with extra NHS surcharge do not have any privilege, as this fee is compulsory for a part of student's visa. I'll arrive in UK 2022 September, so I guess and hope that covid will affect less to NHS that time. Also I'm wondering if some past medical records can help me skip some drugs that might be useless to me...

Posted Fri 3 Sep 2021 10.27 by lizziep

hi yuld - yes your letter might help - It will depend on your local hospital, but the waiting lists won't have improved by September 22nd, I'm afraid - they are getting worse not better. However, they might be different in the area you are going to as they do vary. If you are paying, seeing a dermatologist privately is not difficult.

Posted Fri 3 Sep 2021 10.36 by yuki

Hi Lizziep, I'm going to UK September 2022, which is next year, not september 22nd this year. So I hope it will be better a year later.. Also are there any websites that can help me know the cost if I see a dermatologist privately? Thanks again!

Posted Fri 3 Sep 2021 10.41 by lizziep (edited Fri 3 Sep 2021 10.44 by lizziep)

Ah - sorry - I didn't read that properly. Yes, certainly in 12 months time things may/should be better.. If you google the name of the drug and uk NHS you will get some prices, but those are the costs to the hospitals and won't be the cost of buying them privately and I doubt a dermatologist would give you prices without your paying for a consultation - £200/£250

Posted Fri 3 Sep 2021 10.54 by yuki

hi lizziep, sorry I didnot fully understand about the cost of "£200/£250", is this the consultant fee for a private dermatologist, or for the medicine? And if I see a private doctor, I guess that I must pay for all tests and medicines?

Posted Fri 3 Sep 2021 10.56 by lizziep (edited Fri 3 Sep 2021 10.57 by lizziep)

this is the cost of a one off consultation with a private dermatologist and yes - if you see them privately you pay for all your mediation although they can refer you back to the NHS if you wish it, but you would still have to wait, I think.

Posted Fri 3 Sep 2021 11.13 by yuki

To lizziep - Really thanks for so much information you've provided me! I think I'm more confident for dealing with psoriasis when I go to UK. I'll keep monitoring the waiting time of NHS, as it is still the first option I guess, since it might be a little difficult for me to handle the high expense seeing a doctor privately... Also I'm try to make my psoriasis better now so it'll be easier to be treated abroad. It's so great to have such an opportunity chatting with you!

Posted Fri 3 Sep 2021 11.16 by lizziep

It' a pleasure. It would certainly be the best thing if you could get to the stage where you only needed remedies that are provided by the Gp such as creams and foams. Good Luck.

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