Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sonicmark]

Hey all. I'm planning on moving to Busan in a couple months to teach. I have familial high cholesterol and have been on meds since I was 5. While my cholesterol is actually not even high at the moment, I need my meds or else it will increase! Anyways, I've been told that you can pretty much get any prescription drugs in Korea that you can get in the west, but I just wanted to see if anyone specifically had any suggestions or problems with obtaining Lipitor, Colestid, or Zetia. Furthermore, does anyone in Busan know a reputable clinic or international hospital I should go to? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[Mush]

I'm not sure about the drugs, but as far as a hospital to go to, I have had good experiences at Dong-eui Medical Center. It's located up the hill from Yang-jeong subway stop (two stops up from Seomyeon on Line 1). There is a very helpful nurse there who offers translation services and will guide you through the hospital. The phone numbers I have are (051)850-8941 and (051)863-7892. The website for the hopital is: www.demc.kr

Another option is Good Gangan Hospital, which is located at Geumryeonsan (sp?) Station on Line 2. I've heard they, too, offer translation services, but I have no first hand experience.

[bluelake]

Years ago, I used to get Mevacor here in Korea. However, for the last several years, I just get my prescription for Lipitor filled when I visit the States once a year. I used to use Pravachol and got that filled in the States, too.

[Robot_Teacher]

In my fairly short Korean experience, docs won't give you what you ask for even if you need it. They'll tell you to basically clean up your act by changing your habits such as eating less to lose weight, eat gimchee to increase immunity to all possible ailments including swine flu, and go to bed early voluntarily instead of prescribing drugs to help your problems. They'll also ask you if you're feeling any symptoms of influenza, ask you if you eat gimchee, and strongly advise you to eat more of it. While Korea over medicates on red hot chili sauce based foods, soju, and cigarettes, they're under medicating when it comes to real medicine that works. Docs don't seem to be batting for the drug companies to maximize their sales.

Do you have to receive a prescription to buy aspirin? It seems that silly.

[sonicmark]

Hmm, thanks for the info everybody. Yeah, from what I've read and what my friends in Busan tell me, it's probably going to depend on the doctor/clinic I go to, etc. Everyone seems to have a different experience. I'm going to have to be on an insurance plan here in the states to still have my "previous medical condition" covered by insurance upon my return, so if necessary I can get meds shipped over. I probably won't be able to figure things out until I get there. I'll just try to arrive with as much in the way of meds as possible.

[D.D.]

[Crockpot2001]