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title: "I had Evusheld privately in the UK"
layout: post
image: 
    feature: header_evusheld.png
---
As many of you know, I have been involved for the past few months in a campaign to get Evusheld – a protective/prophylactic drug for immunocompromised people who do not respond well to Covid vaccines – available on the NHS in the UK. We have not succeeded on that front yet and I am not giving up.

However, for my own protection, since AstraZeneca made the drug privately available last week, I have been able to procure it privately. A few FAQs here.

## How and where did you get it?
The process for obtaining private healthcare in the UK is baffling to most people. The process for getting Evusheld looks like this:

1. Find a clinician who will prescribe it for you (you must make sure you meet the criteria and can make a good case)
2. Pay that clinician a consultation fee
3. Get a private prescription and pay a pharmacy for the drug (this pharmacy will be selected by the clinician)
4. Have the drug administered by the clinician (for a fee)

After searching high and low (and thanks to my assistant, Evie, for the huge amount of work she put into this), the only London physician I could find who will do this is Dr Elisa Astorri. You can email her secretary at [info@rheumatologyharleystreet.com](mailto:info@rheumatologyharleystreet.com). She responds very quickly within working hours -- usually within a few minutes. When emailing, you should set out your case history etc. in as concise a way as you can, but with enough evidence to proceed.

*Please do NOT contact me about private provision of Evusheld. This is all the information I can give. It worked for me, but I am not going to change this into a private referral hub for Evusheld. I post it, once, for information only.*

## How much did it cost?
The different parts cost different amounts and can vary. It's a Wild West Show this private purchasing.

1. Consultation with the doctor was £500.
2. The pharmacy charged me £1,600 for the medication. Different pharmacies may have different fees. They've got you over a barrel, too -- by this stage, if you're desperate enough to pay -- and can -- you will. Thinking back, this is basically £1k for the drug, then passing on 20% VAT to me the customer, then £333 of admin fee. Make sure this is for the DOUBLE DOSE of 300/300 not just one of 150/150. So you need 2x packs.
3. £160 for administration.

So for me, about £2,400. Can I afford this? Not really, no. My mother very kindly helped me to pay it. Others will not be so lucky and that is why we must continue the fight.

As another note: I received no special dispensation from AstraZeneca or any favourable treatment. I simply phoned a private clinic and paid.

## Why did you buy it?
The ethics of this are really tricky. I do not believe in private healthcare.

However, I am currently in hospital with kidney failure. Every time I come in, my life is at risk due to my immunosuppression. Although I appreciate that others will not have this luxury, I felt I had to protect myself if I could.

It is *so wrong* that people are being asked to pay this unaffordable amount. The fact that the government will allow it on private grounds shows you just one thing: this is all about cost and healthcare economics.

As above: I am not in a position to be able to shell out this amount of money twice per year for protection. We *MUST* get these drugs available for everyone who needs them, free at the point of access, on the NHS. So I am both personally and politically motivated to continue our campaign. I will not be shutting up about this; too many people's lives continue to be wrecked by the non-availability of this drug.

## What will it mean for you?
Feeling safer in hospital. Seeing my friends occasionally. Travelling without fear. Perhaps even going to the pub once in a while (kidneys permitting). Small things that make big differences. I'm not asking to go to Glastonbury. Just some basic life safety.

I will now continue to work for that safety for everyone in the UK.