izard

In the previous post, I only briefly mentioned cost. Here is an anecdote from my life, a very recent one.

Local doctor in US prescribed something. In the pharmacy, I paid $40. When I told pharmacist that the same would cost $20 in Germany, he pointed me that insurance paid another $1000, so difference with Germany is not 2x, it is 50x. But the high price in US is used to fund pharmaceutical research.

However, this particular drug was invented in Europe 40 years ago, and all patents has expired (that is why it is so cheap everywhere except US).

Oh wait! It is cheap in US too, then I found that I can buy it for $20 without prescription, just with 1/2 dosage. Prescription is only required for higher dosage, but nobody prevents me from taking 2 pills, and when I checked dosage in instruction, with my weight I don't need high dose in the first place.

Germany, Munich: doctor writes a prescription, you go to any pharmacy you like (if you see a big line in one, you can just get to another one around the corner, maybe 2 minutes walking distance away). You pay a very small amount (~10-20 euros for 90% of common prescription medicine, sometimes 0), and you get a factory packed medicine that includes factory printed instructions. You unpack it and you are sure that you are the first human being touching it, it was all packed by a robot on a factory.

US, Portland: doctor writes a prescription and sends it to pharmacy of your choice. You can't (or it is difficult) to change your mind about pharmacy choice later. In the pharmacy, you pay slightly more than in Germany, but you get a receipt saying that the rest (few hundreds of dollars) was paid by your insurance. You also get a vial with medicines, hand-picked by pharmacist, along with instructions printed on the spot.

I understand that in US pharmacists never make errors, but in Germany there is simply no room for an error at the pharmacist level. Another difference is that in Germany pharmacist will consult you and suggest what can you buy from non-prescription medicines selection for your condition, and I think it is impossible in US.

I can't help but notice the difference when driving in Germany and here in US.
Is there something on the roads that is better here in US? Yes! I like how traffic lights are hanging over intersection, so the traffic light for each lane is clearly visible. In Germany sometimes traffic lights are difficult to see and the driver has to move the head around a lot. Also having cities planned in 19th and 20th century, not 500 years ago helps a lot.

Everything else.. Well, here is the list of most annoying things:
1. Stop signs are often placed so that it is impossible to see vehicles coming from left. So one has to stop at the stop sign, then drive ~5 meters forward, stop, look left and then go.
2. Manholes on highways. This is simply unthinkable on Autobahns.
3. General poor quality of highways comparing to Autobahns. Uneven patches, etc. Not too bad actually.
4. Drivers! I think zip merge is too complex concept for locals. A lot of ppl do not yield for oncoming traffic when turning left. Overall I think drivers in Oregon are OK. Not Germans but OK :)
5. No autobahns without speed limits. OK I can live with that, USA is not Germany, OK.
6. Oregon thing: U-turns ban :(

This time local authorities banned most of fireworks within inner city.

So we had to drive outside of Munich to see some.

Now in the city center there is no smell and not too much rubbish, unlike in all recent new year celebrations here.

Crossposts: https://izard.livejournal.com/266073.html

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Entries tagged with germany

Germany vs US, [2 - Pharmacies]

Germany vs US, [1 - Pharmacies]

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