Buy medicines from IndiaMart? Possible? Legal?

[Isac Szwarc Brasil]

Does anyone have experience buying medicines from INDIAMART? Once I sent medicines from abroad to myself, and I had big problems with customs to have them into Thailand. Is it going to happen if I buy medicines from India and mail them to Thailand. Thank you very much for your help. 

[FritsSikkink]

You need an import license

[Isac Szwarc Brasil]

55 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

You need an import license

Thank you 

[John49]

I think this question has been asked (and fully answered previously) on this forum, within the last year – I suggest doing a search.

 

In short, I have received about six deliveries by postal mail in Thailand from India.

Keep quantities small – in my case 2 small bottles of tablets. Then, it can be clearly stated (if stopped and questioned) that it’s for personal use and clearly not a commercial venture.

3 deliveries arrived at my address unimpeded.

3 deliveries required a visit to customs to explain what it was and pay a tax (not exorbitant).

 

Does depend on the customs officer, the first one was very relaxed, the last one said he wants to see a Thai doctor’s prescription next time.

 

However, as someone just posted – strictly speaking an import licence is required, but looks like they bend the rules on small quantities for personal use (deemed to be one month supply, but in my case it’s actually two months supply).

 

[ezzra]

Are you that desperate or daft to even consider using 'medicine from India' bought from god knows where and

contain whatever they it dose? My advise to you, DON'T.... 

[giddyup]

5 hours ago, Isac Szwarc Brasil said:

Does anyone have experience buying medicines from INDIAMART? Once I sent medicines from abroad to myself, and I had big problems with customs to have them into Thailand. Is it going to happen if I buy medicines from India and mail them to Thailand. Thank you very much for your help. 

I have done over 5 years ago without any problems, can't say how easy it would be now they've introduced import duty on just about everything.

[rwill]

possible yes.  legal no.

 

Keep the order under 1,500 baht and it should go through but no guarantee.

 

I don't know how the new law about charging VAT on all items mailed into Thailand will affect them checking even the small packages.

[pub2022]

I wouldn't do it. Lots of medicines are made in India today but I'd consider an alternative if available, I don't mind if more expensive.

[jojothai]

If they check them, as may be likely over 1500 baht, and they are restricted in thailand then they will not be ok.

Check if they are restrivcted drugs in thailand first.

[captpkapoor]

AFAIK, IndiaMart is a wholesale site, meant for traders. They don't sell small quantities. You're better off asking an Indian friend to bring you medicines from there. 

[Sheryl]

Multiple duplicate threads have been merged. Please do not start multiple threads for the same thing.

 

It is illegal to import any sort of medication without an FDA license. That said, small quantities of non-controlled drugs often (but not always) get through if sent by regular mail (never ever use a courier -- and never try this with a controlled drug). Some Indian suppliers are apparently knowledgeable about how best to ship to Thailand, but I do not offhand know which.

 

Note that there will soon be additional tax applied to all goods mailed from abroad. Between this and shipping costs, and the fact that a large range of medications are made in Thailand and quite reasonably priced, it is usually not cost effective to get meds from India unless you happen to need something unusually costly for which there is no local product.

 

If you can list the specific medications you need I can advise better.

[digger70]

1 hour ago, captpkapoor said:

AFAIK, IndiaMart is a wholesale site, meant for traders. They don't sell small quantities. You're better off asking an Indian friend to bring you medicines from there. 

No problems to get Meds that one can't buy in Thailand in small quantities from India.

[digger70]

Buy medicines from IndiaMart? Possible? Legal?

 

Yes one can buy from IndiaMart.

Legal ?  I Don't know .

I got some a few Months ago , No custom problems.

[bradiston]

Been doing it for years. Basically, Riveroxaban, when it was prohibitively expensive here, about 80 THB per 20 mg pill, a fraction of that on Indiamart and a huge choice of suppliers. I always use the same one, with whom I've built up a trusting relationship. She knows how to ship to Thailand without any hassle, I don't know how she does it, but she does charge a bit extra for postage, so maybe that's how it works. She can use WhatsApp, and Wise and now I see Thailand is about to sign a cross border payment scheme with India (hopefully not scam) so I'm looking forward to using PromptPay soon! But all my advice comes with a caveat, of YMMV. I've never had a problem with customs, my stuff always gets shipped to the Cxxxxxxxk post office where I pick it up. She writes good English too. Of course there are other caveats, like fake drugs or worse. But my hearts still ticking and I've mentioned it to heart specialists in several private hospitals here. I'm not sure they don't source at least some of their normally hugely overpriced meds there too.

Edited May 3 by bradiston

[John49]

Some are posting against buying any drugs from India.

To be specific, we have got to be talking about generic drugs i.e. drugs that are chemical copies of well-known drugs originally made by large pharma, and not drugs with alleged magical properties – that I would not recommend and are excluded.

 

Firstly, there are user reviews on India Mart and it’s not difficult to sort genuine reviews from fake reviews.

Secondly, most of the drugs on sale are from well-known generic manufacturers like Dr. Reddy and Cipla.

 

In my case, I was prescribed an immunological drug by a local public hospital.

It was ordered from Bangkok and when I went the hospital pharmacy to pay for the one month’s supply, the cost was about 90% (?) cost of the OEM version by Bristol Myers Squibb.

The drugs was manufactured by Dr Reddy in India, i.e. it was a generic version, with major price gouging by the public hospital.

I did not complain as my very knowledgeable hospital doctor had been kind and helpful.

 

I quickly switched to ordering directly from India and paid about 15% (?) of the local public hospital price.

It just happened to be Cipla, and not Dr Reddy.

Drugs proved to be authentic and improved my health status.

 

Also, not clear why some above say ‘cannot but small quantities’ and it's only for wholesalers.

Both options are catered for on India Mart.

 

Also, I have not heard about 1,500 Baht limit.

I was ‘interviewed’ by 3 separate custom officers.

They simply wanted to know how much I paid (they not did require receipts and took my word on price) and applied a percentage customs fee.

 

I recommend India Mart.

Once, a relationship is established with a supplier, authentic repeat medications arrive reasonably on time and usually at a much reduced price.

Just buy small quantities and be prepared to visit to customs - to explain and pay a (small) fee.

As some have said, don't use a courier (like DHS) - makes it look more like commercial and not personal?

I took that advice and I used EMS.

[Isac Szwarc Brasil]

47 minutes ago, John49 said:

Some are posting against buying any drugs from India.

To be specific, we have got to be talking about generic drugs i.e. drugs that are chemical copies of well-known drugs originally made by large pharma, and not drugs with alleged magical properties – that I would not recommend and are excluded.

 

Firstly, there are user reviews on India Mart and it’s not difficult to sort genuine reviews from fake reviews.

Secondly, most of the drugs on sale are from well-known generic manufacturers like Dr. Reddy and Cipla.

 

In my case, I was prescribed an immunological drug by a local public hospital.

It was ordered from Bangkok and when I went the hospital pharmacy to pay for the one month’s supply, the cost was about 90% (?) cost of the OEM version by Bristol Myers Squibb.

The drugs was manufactured by Dr Reddy in India, i.e. it was a generic version, with major price gouging by the public hospital.

I did not complain as my very knowledgeable hospital doctor had been kind and helpful.

 

I quickly switched to ordering directly from India and paid about 15% (?) of the local public hospital price.

It just happened to be Cipla, and not Dr Reddy.

Drugs proved to be authentic and improved my health status.

 

Also, not clear why some above say ‘cannot but small quantities’ and it's only for wholesalers.

Both options are catered for on India Mart.

 

Also, I have not heard about 1,500 Baht limit.

I was ‘interviewed’ by 3 separate custom officers.

They simply wanted to know how much I paid (they not did require receipts and took my word on price) and applied a percentage customs fee.

 

I recommend India Mart.

Once, a relationship is established with a supplier, authentic repeat medications arrive reasonably on time and usually at a much reduced price.

Just buy small quantities and be prepared to visit to customs - to explain and pay a (small) fee.

As some have said, don't use a courier (like DHS) - makes it look more like commercial and not personal?

I took that advice and I used EMS.

Thank you very much, very helpful. 

[digbeth]

The news that the government is going to start collecting VAT on the previously exempt under 1500 baht shipment only applies for online merchant that has presence in Thailand (like Lazada or Shopee) that they can force the VAT on from the moment of purchase. 

 

The post office don't have the manpower to check every packages so if your orders slip through the net, it'll continue