Why does it cost so much?!?!?!

I hate the public health system.

I really do.

really.

those sods.


I went to make a doctors appointment with my GP last week to find that she's moved to a practice in Kaiapoi (yes, Kaiapoi?!). I like her, so instead of going to my usual practice (Moorhouse Medical Centre - and I wouldn't recommend going there) I tracked her down and went to her new practice (again, why Kaiapoi?!!!!). Because I'm not enrolled there I had to pay $52, and then when I went to get my prescription it came to $88!!! All this because the government dishes out its funding to centres whose patients are enrolled, rather than casual, and this is written on your prescription, which then determines what you pay at the chemist. (eg $16 for an inhaler, instead of $4)
(I must add that the inhaler is listed as costing $29, and thus has already been subsidised to $16, but still!!)
So i said I couldn't afford to pay the prescription, and left. I am now stuck with two options - pay the $88, or cancel the prescription, go to my "usual" medical centre, pay for a consultation ($32) and get a new prescription where everything will cost $4 a pop.
Way 1 i will end up paying $140
Way 2 i will pay (hopefully) $104 (depending on the whole $4 per item charge)


and all I was trying to do was go to the doctor and get some asthma medication and some pain killers.


aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*cries of frustration*
*periodic fist to floor pounding and general tantrum throwing*