Emergent question of Hepatitis B virus treatment in Finland

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lifetimelove.dong
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Emergent question of Hepatitis B virus treatment in Finland

Post by lifetimelove.dong » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:10 pm

Dear all,

I've just subscribed to this forum a few minutes ago. I felt lucky for having found this important information resource regarding living in Finland.

My husband and I currently reside in the U.S. My husband has lately got a research job offer in Helsinki and he really likes this job. However, before he can make his decision of whether to take this job or not, he is anxious to know the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment in Finland. Currently he is taking Hepsera (adefovir dipivoxil), which is a Hepatitis B antiviral medicine. According to his doctor, it is extremely important for my husband not to disrupt his HBV antiviral treatment. So my questions are:

(1) Would anyone please tell me the name of any doctors or hospitals specialized in HBV treatment in Finland that I can consult ?

(2) Does anyone happen to know the availability of Hepsera (adefovir dipivoxil) in Finland? and the price as well?

I'd greatly appreciate any insights you may share with us. This would be extremely important for my husband to make his decision upon this job offer. Thank you so much in advance for your help!

Best regards,

Luz from Minnesota :)


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Emergent question of Hepatitis B virus treatment in Finland

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Hank W.
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Post by Hank W. » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:13 pm

Well, on a cursory look:

HEPSERA
reseptilääke 10mg tabl 30 Gilead €687,21 adefoviiridipivoksiili ei ei ole

So yes they sell it, and seems to be on the expensive side. And KELA doesn't rebate it. Of the doctors - your hubbys prospective employer probably has a dea with a clinic, so then that clinic would have a specialist.

And no, you cannot get it from anywhere else mailed to you as thats drug smuggling.
Cheers, Hank W.
sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.
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raamv
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Post by raamv » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:58 pm

Best to ask the prospective employer of the Medical coverage and even negotiate a package based on your move here..
If they are willing to pay for your Hubby's services, why not..
Unless they think that hes not worth that..
but then that depends on whether your hubby wanna tell the employer of his condition..as well as finding any suitable Insurance company Providing him with insurance coverage when such a condition has been identified...or solely depending on the health coverage of your employer without telling them and hoping that they cover it..
Dont take your chances.. Find out from the employers the above things ..
Also check these links for more information:
http://www.expat-finland.com/living_in_ ... hcare.html
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lifetimelove.dong
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Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:39 pm
Location: Minnesota, U.S.A

Post by lifetimelove.dong » Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:04 am

Dear Hank and raamv,

Thanks so much for your quick response! Your answers are very helpful to my husband and me!

By the way, Hank, may I ask where did you find the information of the availability of Hepsera in Finland (as your email reads "HEPSERA reseptilääke 10mg tabl 30 Gilead €687,21 adefoviiridipivoksiili ei ei ole")? I'd appreciate if you could provide me the link to its resource so that I may learn more from it.

Thank you again, Hank and raamv, for your great help!

Best regards,

Luz :P
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Hank W.
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Post by Hank W. » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:56 am

Kela has a "lääkeluettelo" of medicines and the breakdown if there is a generic product and if there is a substitute, and if the medicine is one of those it rebates.

Theres also one by the 'Medicine Authority' that lists all the medicines with a licence for sale, alas with no price information, and then one that is a medical stuff portal it listed the same Hepavir but at the price of 580 from Swedish Orphan instead of Gilead, but the price information is a bit questionable. The KELA site is the one that "decided" quite a lot.
Cheers, Hank W.
sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.
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Rosamunda
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Post by Rosamunda » Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:46 am

http://www.kela.fi/in/internet/english. ... enDocument

Then click on the medecines database link which is on the left hand side of the page
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sy
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Post by sy » Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:14 pm

AFAIK, for the regular _residents_ in Finland, if the virus is active and the doctor decides the start of treatment, you can get the medicine directly from the hospital's internal pharmacy, i.e., you do have to pay for them at all by yourself.

So, I guess if your husband can get a permanent job contract, and thus can secure an A-type residence permit, and thus covered by KELA, then there should be no worry about it. Although I'm not sure whether you can get a permanent job contract for a research job. Is the research job in a university or a company?
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