2008 Retiree Concerned About Thai Availability Of Meds Want To Evaluate Global Options

[pumper]

I 60 & am on prescription medications legal & available in the US that are not legal in thailand, but are available under the counter & out outrageously expensive on Sukhumvit.

I also believe in & utilize nutrition which is prohibitively expensive or unavailable in Thailand.

example: expense of whey protein, I go through 3kg per month, cost in the US under 1000 Thb. I take hand fulls of capsules & tablets, antioxidants & specialized nutrients in addition to the As & Bs & C/E

I'm looking at a 25k Thb monthly increase over US pricing for meds & nutrition.

granted I will recoup some of that through my savings on whiskey Thai instead of J Walker Black Label.

I have decided to research other countries for health options.

Forums for other countries are no where near the resource Thai forums are.

Example: the several Panama forums I have spent time on are little more than advertising calling itself a forum.

my thoughts are to:

1. google for pharmacies in assorted countries, but then be limited to info related to that pharmacies inventory.
   
2. seek out more forums
   

any one got any ideas?

Edited June 24, 2007 by pumper

[Jingthing]

I would guess that the supplement industry is most developed in the US, thus more volume, more competition. As opposed to pharma meds there, which is of course artificially high.

The obvious idea is to move to Baja California or Guadalajara and take trips to stock up in the US.

[pumper]

mexico is obviously obvious. Rosarito definitely is a potential solution. Just as marring the first girl spotted standing in the middle of Soi Cowboy is a possible companion solution.

the problem with med availability & nutrition cost is Thai law not proximity to source.

The nutrition is 99% manufactured in China! ..

I used to be an elitist demanding amino acids manufactured in Germany or the US .. 10 years later Chinese nutrition (dog food / socks) is the only option.

my meds are available in Mexico, Panama, UK .. & Ram Hospital Group reports soon to be available in Thailand under an exclusive import license

& (their words) available to high end Thai resident clients. ??

I do intend on evaluating options .. perhaps the Cathay Pacific 'world pass' .. fly into each Asian Pass country on the Cathay Pacific route & ask at the first pharmacy I see.

I am currently seeking suggestions on how to intelligently evaluate, how / where to get valid info on a variety of country specific geriatric health related questions.

Thai forums rule ..

I wonder why Thai forums are so useful compared to other 3rd world forums?