RonHenk Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 I have searched this forum about this subject and read all that I could find. But I would like to ask you all some specific questions. Is there anyone on this forum, living in the Philippines, that is required to take daily medication that is NOT available in the PI. If so, how do you receive your meds? What mail service (if any) do you use? What is the shipping delay? Are there any issues with customs? What sort of stockpile do you maintain to offset any potential delays? Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hounddriver Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 Is there anyone on this forum, living in the Philippines, that is required to take daily medication that is NOT available in the PI. If so, how do you receive your meds? What mail service (if any) do you use? What is the shipping delay? Are there any issues with customs? My best friend (now deceased) lived here after his major heart surgery in the US. There were medications he needed from the US and He had his daughter buy them in North Carolina and ship them through the post office. He told me that the post office usually took 2 weeks so she sent a supply every 2 weeks and he kept 2 weeks extra supply on hand. This went on for 3 years but of course there will be problems. In his case the problems occurred when his daughter had her own life issues and stopped being regular with the mail sending. Lou went to the post office so often that they knew him well and he treated the staff there to donuts once in a while so the Philippine post office never lost his pills and there was never a customs problem. But when his daughter got behind in the sending of them, Lou went to a Philippine heart specialist who prescribed him equivalent meds that he could obtain here in Dumaguete. They were not cheap, but he found out that everything he needed could be obtained here if he was willing to work with the Philippine doctor. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Peterson Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 They were not cheap, but he found out that everything he needed could be obtained here if he was willing to work with the Philippine doctor. Absolutely correct, all my maintenance Medicines for my Stroke Condition are readily availble here, YES at a cost but. if you visit a good Generic Pharmacy and have a chat to the pharmacist, there are a very wide range of Generic Medicines available at sometimes 50% of the cost of Brand names. Well worth the effort to inquire. JP :tiphat: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intrepid Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 They were not cheap, but he found out that everything he needed could be obtained here if he was willing to work with the Philippine doctor. Absolutely correct, all my maintenance Medicines for my Stroke Condition are readily availble here, YES at a cost but. if you visit a good Generic Pharmacy and have a chat to the pharmacist, there are a very wide range of Generic Medicines available at sometimes 50% of the cost of Brand names. Well worth the effort to inquire. JP :tiphat: You got me thinking. By using the generic meds and the savings in not shipping, the cost difference may not be so much. Might not even be worth the trouble having someone ship them? I know some people here in the US who buy medications from Canada, India and maybe other places. But that is shipping to US. I wonder if that may be an option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Peterson Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 When I first arrived after my Stroke, I had 6 months supply of Prescription Drugs and had them in my Carry on. Checking with PI Customs before leaving Spain, They told me that officially we are only supposed to have enough for our vacations but in this instance it would be OK They told me to carry the Prescription in my paperwork and split all the medications into 6 monthly Little packages and label them by month. Officially it is illegal to import more than the needed prescription drugs required for our stay. I guess no one has had a Hiccup on this but what a catastrophe if Customs open a Package addressed to you holding drugs albeit prescriptionand confiscated the much needed items. Based on this, I did as I suggested, Found the Alternative. :thumbsup: JP :tiphat: :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris49 Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 They were not cheap, but he found out that everything he needed could be obtained here if he was willing to work with the Philippine doctor. Absolutely correct, all my maintenance Medicines for my Stroke Condition are readily availble here, YES at a cost but. if you visit a good Generic Pharmacy and have a chat to the pharmacist, there are a very wide range of Generic Medicines available at sometimes 50% of the cost of Brand names. Well worth the effort to inquire. JP :tiphat: You got me thinking. By using the generic meds and the savings in not shipping, the cost difference may not be so much. Might not even be worth the trouble having someone ship them? I know some people here in the US who buy medications from Canada, India and maybe other places. But that is shipping to US. I wonder if that may be an option? I think it is. Many generics here in the Phils do come from Indonesia or India. I get maintainence meds for asthma, inhalers and etc from Generics Pharmacy. I'm an RN, former Head Nurse and Manager/Supervisor. But I see a Doc now and then to get a new Rx and even if I don't need a Rx, I still see him for about 300 pesos, just for confirmation. I needed a short course of prostate meds about a year ago and he fixed me up there. When I needed it again I used the same Rx....that's at Generics, not Mercury. Mercury has the original, branded stuff, but they shoot up the price accordingly. You will find some discrepancy in the strength of generic meds, so that's another reason to see a Dr. I can also tell you how to get a Snr Citizen's discount here in the Phils...PM me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonHenk Posted March 1, 2015 Author Posted March 1, 2015 Thanks guys. I appreciate all your help and suggestions. I am continuing to research my options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Peterson Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 I can also tell you how to get a Snr Citizen's discount here in the Phils.. :unsure: Maybe but I would be more interested in How to use it on the right side of the Law. :thumbsup: JP :tiphat: :morning1: Cocoa and then Good night :) Good night All. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris49 Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 I can also tell you how to get a Snr Citizen's discount here in the Phils.. :unsure: Maybe but I would be more interested in How to use it on the right side of the Law. JP :tiphat: :morning1: Cocoa and then Good night :) Good night All. Coffee with brandy for me....as I finger my card :dance: :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon1 Posted March 1, 2015 Posted March 1, 2015 Bottom line: always have at least one backup plan for such critical needs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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