Job Discussion Forums

muckhead · Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 21 Location: San Diego, CA USA

Anyone know where I can find info on medications available in China? Specific ones. I really want to go but it all depends on if my medication is available there. Any suggestions?

JDYoung · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 157 Location: Dongbei

Ask someone who is already here, preferably in a city where you plan to work, and they can check out local availability. I've heard of no problems with medications for hypothyroid, high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure but I'm in a large city and know where the reliable pharmacies are. A big problem here is counterfeit medications.

Calories · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 361 Location: Chinese Food Hell

what about birth control medication? I'll only be taking 6 months worth and if things go well, I might want to stay longer.

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

Birth control pills are extremely east to get. You don't require a prescription like at home. In my city you can even buy them at the local convience store.

zhamr · Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 128 Location: Darwin, Australia

Muckhead, there is such a great deal of variability in availability across the country that a 'generic' response is almost meaningless. If you are planning to work in one of the large cities, there is every chance that your medication is available and probably produced by a local pharmaceutical company.

One way of checking this to get someone to conduct a search for the name of your medication (the name of the actual chemical compounds, as opposed to the commercial name) on Chinese language websites. This usually gives you a good idea of the local availability, but does of course require someone literate in Chinese to assist. If you wish to PM me, I am happy to have a look around on your behalf...