Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pentheus]

I'm off to Thailand for about 3 weeks and although lots of people say you don't need any anti malaria pills unless you're heading into the jungle, I want get them anyway.
I read up and asked mates and they all say that Malarone is the stuff to get. However when I went into some pharmacys to get it they firstly said I needed a prescription and secondly didn't have any malarone, only the cheaper and more liable to have side-effects stuff.
My questions are can you get Malarone in Korea? And do you really need a prescription from a doctor to get an anti-malaria pill? And just how dodgy are the cheaper anti-malaria ills or are they worth the risk?

Any advice or tips would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[penguin]

According to their website, you can get Malarone at the International Clinic in Itawon (4,000/pill/day though!!) Take it 1 or 2 days before you go and 7 days after you come back. http://www.internationalclinic.co.kr/TM/tm_1_5.asp

You could also take Doxycycline, but it seems like you need to take it for 4 weeks after you get back. I think it's cheaper though.

Of course they both have side effects...

This is a good site for information: http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/asia.htm#3rdb - it has a good map of the malaria risk areas of Thailand at the bottom of the page.

Yes, you need a prescription, so factor in another 50,000 or so for seeing the doctor.

[pentheus]

Thanks. Good of you to help.

[prideofidaho]

You can also get it at Yonsei Severence's International Clinic.

[penguin]

I just went to the International Clinic in Itaewon today (Hannam bldg, 5th floor). It cost 12,000 to see the doctor (if you have health insurance) and get a prescription. If you ask, they will give you directions to three nearby pharmacies in Itaewon that sell Malarone.

The doctor said, for 4 weeks of holiday (plus pre- and post-holiday pills), Malarone will cost around 100-110,000 and Doxycycline about 10,000.

By the way, Yonsei Severance International Clinic way overcharges. I called and they charge 46,000 (if you have insurance) to see the doctor to get a prescription (which takes about 3 minutes). Also, they have currently run out of Hep A and don't do Typhoid shots. Don't bother with them for something like this.

[Spud10]

Annnnd I found this here, hopefully this still up to date, right?

[penguin]

Should be...