American in Spain

Drug Deal

February 26, 2010

The other day I took Nora to the doctor to get her cough and recurring fever looked at. Actually I went in just to get an appointment, but as soon as the receptionist heard the F-word, she passed me right along to the pediatric waiting area. Eventually the doctor saw us, probed and prodded a screaming Nora, and gave us a prescription for a cough and fever medicine. We headed straight for the farmacia.

Pharmacist: "How may I help you?"

Me [handing over prescription slip]: "Here."

Pharmacist: "One moment."

Pharmacist [returning with bottle]: "Okay, that'll be seventy-two..."

Me [thinking with my American brain]: "What?? 72€ is awfully expensive for cough medicine!"

Pharmacist: "...cents."

Socialized medicine really is brutal.