Most medications do not require prescriptions and can be purchased by any adult at any pharmacy without prescription. Many patients purchase and take endocrine drugs over the counter including levothyroxine, oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids, and androgens. The drugs that require prescriptions include anti-seizure drugs, psychotropics, narcotics, and most benzodiazepines. Drugs that are considered "life-saving" are usually free of charge in government pharmacies, such as regular insulin for diabetics, basic anti-hypertensives, and glucocorticoids for adrenal insufficiency. Most medications are paid for by the patient and not reimbursed by the government. Exceptions are chemotherapy, IV fluids, anesthetics.
Families will bring things to inpatients that they might need such as medications. The doctors might even buy medications for their patients who are in distress. I heard stories of doctors leaving the hospital to find and purchase IV calcium and IV dextrose for their patients with acute severe hypocalcemia or hypoglycemia.
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