Job Discussion Forums

ang_nic · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 12

hey guys, this may be stupid but please be gentle

i am about to sign a one-year contract in indonesia and am wondering what to do about prescription meds.

i have been abroad before but in shorter chunks (4 months) and easily got a "vacation pass" or whatnot with my insurance and was able to take the entire lot with me.

anybody have any advice for what do for a year-long situation?

i don't know if the specific meds would be available where i will be located.

thanks for you *helpful* words.

Ozindo · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 40 Location: Indonesia

Check online MIMS Indonesia - you'll probably have to put in the "basic" name of the medications concerned, rather than the proprietary name. That will tell you if they are manufactured in Indonesia ( a surprising number are). Talk to your current doctor and get him to write a detailed letter to a doctor in Indonesia (you can get help with translation later). Bring enough meds with you for short term, and discuss with doctor here when you arrive.
If the meds you want are not produced here, it may mean they have to be imported, which may - or may not - be a hassle, depending on the type.
From experience, I envisage no major problems - just a bit of forward planning.
Of course, a lot depends on where you're going to be based here in Indonesia and what type of medications you need.
Let me know if you need any further help, and good luck

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

You should stock up on as many as possible from home as they may have different brands and could also cost more in Indo. They don't have any government subsidies for medicine.
Take a note from your doc saying you need this particular prescription to avoid any hassles entering the country.
Also if you run out along the way you can get something similar from a local doctor and then get that much cheaper in Senen or Blok M markets than if you used the prescription and went to a regular pharmacy.

Atoms for Peace · Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 135 Location: NKRI

Vertumnus · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 142 Location: Indonesia

Everyone's comments are spot on. Get the generic name of the medicine you need. A doctor should recognize it, even though the spelling will be different here (eg: sodium is natrium), and can probably help you quite easily.

As has been pointed out, there are lots of pharmacies (apotek/apotik) here that like to pass off expired/false medicine, so be careful where you purchase.

Also, please note that many drugs that are marked "prescription only" are, in reality, available from most pharmacies even without a prescription. I've almost never been asked for a prescription for medicine I needed, and the pharmacists feel quite comfortable making recommendations. Please be careful.

-D