Did you know that you can get a whole laundry list of medications over the counter in the Philippines? Many medications that require a prescription in the United States and other countries can easily be obtained over the counter here in the Philippines.
Really, as far as I know, the only medications that require a prescription here are narcotics, and sometimes even they can be obtained at the pharmacy, if you are a regular customer. Things like medication for blood pressure, diabetes, antibiotics and other such drugs require no prescription, and can be purchased at online pharmacy by anybody with the money. For example, I have several medications that I take regularly for different long term ailments, and I never need a prescription.
Recently, a friend told me that here in the Philippines, he felt that he could self-medicate himself to death! I suppose that is true if you go too far. In my opinion, being able to obtain medications that you have been taking for the long term is OK. But, I also think it is important to go to a doctor for regular checkups and to ensure that the medications that you are taking are still the appropriate choice for your condition. Also, if you have any kind of serious sickness, a doctor’s visit is certainly in order.
Here’s to your health!
Good Day Bob,
I have found your site very informative.
I'm a US Citizen who married a Filipino. We are planning to retire in the Philippines few years from now. However I do have quite a few prescriptions here in the US that are way to expensive to afford with out health insurance. I understand that health insurance can be had at reasonable prices. I looked at the website you listed and found the plans that covered prescriptions to be more expensive than here in the US. Our concern is the cost of the medicines and since many can be bought with out a prescription over the counter they would not be covered by the HI. How do we go about finding the cost of them in the Philippines? With out an answer to this question it is the one stumbling block that could keep us from retiring there. Thank you for your time.
Best Regards
Wayne A. Derby
Hi Wayne – thanks for dropping by! It's always nice to welcome a new visitor to the site.
Regarding your medications, if you can e-mail me a list of meds that you are using, I can check with the local pharmacy to get the prices and check on the availability for you.
This must be a re-run, Wayne's not new! 🙂 Yep, it sure make having to go to the dr. to get an expensive prescription in the States hard to take! We usually take some basic meds the the States us, just in case.
Hi AmericanLola – Yep, it's a rerun! I usually post a new article in the morning, and rerun an older article in the afternoon. That's funny, bringing some meds with you to the USA. It just doesn't seem logical, even though I KNOW that it is! 😆
Hi American Lola:
Your correct I'm not new. "I'm old and in the way" 😉
Title song from Jerry Garcia's second album. That is an alternative that I never considered. How do you accomplish that when living in the RP?
Thanks
You mean taking meds to the USA?
Yes, I would have thought that bringing medications that are prescriptions in the US from outside the US & without a prescription would be illegal.
Hi Wayne – in this kind of case, you can generally bring in an amount for personal use. If you tried to bring in a huge amount to sell or give away for others to use, that would be a problem, but an amount for personal use should not be a problem.
I find prescription medicines in Philippines to be outrageously overpriced relative to other SE Asian countries. Sometimes 3 to 5x. Vitamins included. And the availability of generic meds, in terms of selection is very lacking. What I do is to go to Vietnam once a year to stock up on meds (in particular my allergy spray meds). I find that I save 2 times the cost of entire trip to Vietnam, including air and hotel.
Hi Jae – I find that interesting! You are correct, medication can tend to be quite expensive here. I am curious, when you go to Vietnam to get a years supply of medications, do you have problems brining in such a large supply of medications when you enter the Philippines? Also, can you obtain your medicines in Vietnam without a prescription, as it is here? I might consider doing that myself. Not only do you save money, but you also get a nice trip out of the deal!
Exactly, I love Vietnamese food, and I make a nice trip out of it. Have your cake and eat it too.
No prescriptions needed, and there is an area near the Ho Chi Min City Hall (Saigon) where many pharmacies are congregated (called Pharmacy Alley). The selection is complete, and as I said, very cheap. You will need to have the generic chemical/compound name for the pharmaceuticals, as the brand names on the drugs may be different from the ones you are used to buying (as you know, exact same drug by even same drug companies are sold in number of different brand names in different countries).
Since I buy about a year's worth, I take all the pills out of their bubble wraps, and sprays out of their boxes. This demonstrates that they are for personal use, not for resale, just in case people ask. I never had any problem with this–no one ever asked. BTW, americans regularly buy and bring back meds from canada/mexico into US.
U.S. citizens need visa (from vietnam embassy in manila–very, very quick on the spot processing). Filipinos don't need visa.
The last time I went, I coupled the Saigon trip with Angkor Wat (Siem Reap). Angkor Wat trip is very cheap and easily arranged once you are in Vietnam (less than 1 hr big jet flight). Angkor Wat, of course is a "must see" place before you die! Visa is issued at Siem Reap Cambodia airport once you land, so you don't need to get it beforehand (just have some international currency, not pesos, handy). The hotels in Saigon and Siem Reap are very inexpensive and very nice in comparason to Manila hotels.
I sound like Lonely Planet.
Hi Jae – This is fascinating! I may just do this! 😀
Yeah, I highly recommend it. Angkor Wat is just amazing.
hi bob staying long term in angeles city what do i do about anti malaria i use to take tablets when i was there as a tourist but i cant take them all the time if i am there long term 1 year plus
malcolm
Hi malcolm – Thanks for visiting, and leaving your comment. In a populated area like Angeles City you don't need to worry about Malaria. It is virtually non-existent in an area like that. If you plan on going out into the heavy jungle type areas, it can be a concern, but otherwise no need to worry.