The research-based pharmaceutical industry has had a long-standing tradition of providing prescription medicines free of charge to physicians whose patients might not otherwise have access to necessary medicines.

To make it easier for physicians to identify the growing number of programs available for needy patients, member companies of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) created this directory. It lists company programs that provide drugs to physicians whose patients could not otherwise afford them. The programs are listed alphabetically by company. Under the entry for each program is information about how to make a request for assistance, what prescription medicines are covered, and basic eligibility criteria.
Programs
The 1999-2000 Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs is also available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Acrobat provides a high level of graphic richness and can be easily printed out and kept for future reference.

If you wish to access the PDF files but do not have Acrobat Reader 3.0 installed on your system, you can DOWNLOAD this free software from Adobe Systems. Note: Any one using an Acrobat Reader below version 3.0 may experience some trouble viewing and printing the PDF file. We suggest upgrading your software to version 4.0 before attempting to view the file.

More specific information and details can be viewed at the Pharma.Org site.
Two other important sites to gather information from are:
NAMI- National Alliance for The Mentall Ill- Free Medication Program

http://www.nami.org/update/freemed.htm

The Medicine Program:

http://www.themedicineprogram.com/info.html
Prescriptions Cheaper North & South Of The US Borders
It’s a known fact that prescription drugs can be obtained more cheaply by crossing the borders into Mexico and Canada. You’ve seen it on television, in magazines and newspapers. . Drug costs are much lower in Canada and Mexico due to trade laws and lower manufacturing costs in those countries.

For years elderly Americans in particular have been crossing the borders to obtain their prescriptions as well as those medications which are not permitted here in the States for their treatments.

Americans are permitted to import a 90-day supply of approved drugs from these countries for personal use.

Before planning such an edeavor, check with the FDA and Customs for regulations on bringing in these prescription drugs.

http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/purchasing_medications.htm

http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/pipinfo.htm

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/travel.htm

You should carry copies of your prescriptions when you return back to the States so that you will not encounter difficulties with Customs.

© Copyright 2000 by Gail R. Mitchell

Author

  • Ms. Mitchell began her full-time caregiving experience in the early eighties when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Later on she became the primary caregiver for her father, along with her mother who had become critically ill from burnout prior to her dad’s passing. In recent years, she cared for several friends with AIDS while continuing to care for her mother and actively providing support, information, referrals and resources for caregivers.

    Gail's leadership on the Internet and her success with Empowering Caregivers led her to found National Organization For Empowering Caregivers (NOFEC) INC in 2001.

    Prior to founding NOFEC, she created the iVillageHealth Chat: Empowering Caregivers, which she hosted for over 5 years. Within a month of hosting she created Empowering Caregivers: www.care-givers.com in 1999 as a resource for caregivers around the globe. Over three million visitors have frequented the website.

    She has presented at national and international care-related conferences and programs and has been a keynote speaker for many programs as well.

    Ms Mitchell has assisted thousands of caregivers online and offline in ways to empower themselves in their roles in caring for loved ones.

    For a list of clients and/or her resume, please contact info@care-givers.com

    Gail's articles have been published in many venues nationally and in Canada. Presently, she is a member of American Society on Aging and National Quality Caregivers Coalition.

    Gail has discovered that there is life after caregiving: She has become a successful ceramic artist and installation artist. She created Crystal Illumination Art to bring the transformative quality of illumination, light and color to the human experience and celebrate its ability to inspire, heal and nourish our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.