Importing Medicines -the rules change.

[chalawaan]

If you import bulk medicines for a chronic condition you should know that since February, your shipment will be held until the local equivalent of the FDA verify it is legit, and not fake!

A Dr script is still required.

After the usual endless runaround we discovered the Cancer medicine we ordered from India for a 90 year old in Korat was shipped to some customs office in the middle of nowhere, I forget the city, but it's the customs service "hub" for Korat Province, and we have to now drive about 5 hours to get there and presumably sign and pay whatever they ask, do whatever they want, to get the meds released, even though it's their rules and really their problem, not ours!

And why can't we do it by wire?

 

Well what a stupid question in 2023 Thailand with a world beating internet, eh? Don't you know the internet is only for play-play time? Stupid farang. 

 

Nobody here ever bothers to communicate these important changes unless, it's them cracking the whip over the public, even the Dr was left to find out the law had changed. 

 

Now the old chap is unmedicated, as chasing this mystery delay took weeks to get the full story, even though we ordered ahead.

 

Just be aware, and good luck!

[Sheryl]

This is not new and in fact more is required than FDA verification. It requires an FDA permit (hard to obtain but possible if the drug is otherwise unavailable in Thsilan)  to import any pharmaceuticsa by mail and always has. 

 

Shipments via courier always get flagged on this.

 

Shipments by regular post, if small in amount, are often let through but no guarantee.

 

Good luck when you go - but before making such a long trip suggest ypu try to find out on phone if they are going to demand an FDA permit (which by law they should) as you will otherwise waste the trip.

 

[chalawaan]

34 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

This is not new and in fact more is required than FDA verification. It requires an FDA permit (hard to obtain but possible if the drug is otherwise unavailable in Thsilan)  to import any pharmaceuticsa by mail and always has. 

 

Shipments via courier always get flagged on this.

 

Shipments by regular post, if small in amount, are often let through but no guarantee.

 

Good luck when you go - but before making such a long trip suggest ypu try to find out on phone if they are going to demand an FDA permit (which by law they should) as you will otherwise waste the trip.

 

Thank you Sheryl.

We got this Bicalutamide for Prostate Cancer, without any issues in Bangkok, it was 180 pills airmailed. 

Moved to Korat, and now this.

 

 

All I am relating is what we were told, that "Thai laws changed in February." 

 

This stuff is not cheap, even out of India, and necessary for the user.

 

They told us once the package is "approved" we will be cleared for ongoing shipments. 

 

They didn't bother telling us we will waste our time as private citizens. 

 

The drug is available in Thailand. 

 

It's just infuriating to deal with this nonsense constantly.

Edited April 22, 2023 by chalawaan

[crouchpeter]

I got Apigat (Eliquis clone), from India, no probs. by post. Next shipment, had to go to Chaeng Watt ana, see the FDA girl, and shipment seized! My wife said, can we pay money?, and she said, no, too many cameras. But now that borders are open again, just go to Oz. 150 baht for a months supply whereas 4,500 baht here.