Crackdown On Thai Pharmacies

[astral]

If there are 73,000 villages in thailand and only 10% have stores that sell drugs chemical and dangerous poisons, without pharmacists. Then the government may have a problem,

The figure was 500 to be registered by the end of the year.

That is not even 1%.

Another excuse for collecting bribes?

[astral]

Combining some responses .....

Does this mean Thais will be able to buy Viagra at 30 Baht a card (10 tabs?) if they can assure the pharmacist they don't have a heart condition?

Viagra comes in packs of 4!!

[astral]

Viagara is 500 baht PER TAB at any of the few pharmacies that stock it. Go do your own survey.

The generic equivalents from India (Kamagra, Vigora, etc) are less than 100 baht for a pack of 4 tablets, when sold over the counter in India.

Now wonder the authorities were so anxious to nick that guy selling Viagra in Pattaya. He was cutting into their profits!!!

[robsamui]

Just an observation...hope it's not off-topic...

Looking at the responses here, I am AMAZED at how many members have no idea what the 30-baht scheme is.

It rather makes me wonder as to their credentials to offer comment or advice in this forum.....

Rob

[logpoacher]

Robsamui,

I was talking to a long time Bangkok resident the other day who was completely unaware that we are in the middle of the election for Governor! He was actually asking what all the posters all over town were for. As you suggest, I shall not be asking his advice again!

My absolute favourite in this category was in Stickman's interview with Bernard Trink, when Trink said he's been here over 40 years but can't speak Thai as "I just haven't got the ear for it".

[Foggy Bottom]

I empathise with Trink - I'm tone deaf (in both ears) and my spoken Thai is atrocious and must be painful to Thais, I get by at a basic level - shopping, dining etc, but a, completely lost in "normal" conversation or business conversation - that's after 5 years of trying.

Even French which was hammered into me for 5 years in secondary school and upon which a lot of (Brit) English is based was difficult for me - I've pretty much forgotten it all now.

Some people have the grey stuff for languages, others don't, just as some have it for engineering, science, maths etc, whilst others don't.

Like everything else, the younger you learn it, the easier it is to learn.

[ovenman]

I empathise with Trink - I'm tone deaf (in both ears) and my spoken Thai is atrocious and must be painful to Thais, I get by at a basic level - shopping, dining etc, but a, completely lost in "normal" conversation or business conversation - that's after 5 years of trying.

Agree with you totally. I don't have the ear for Thai tones either. I also struggled with French in secondary school and have probably forgotten more French than I was ever taught!

Some people find languages easy to pick up, I don't.

[ovenman]

If there are 73,000 villages in thailand and only 10% have stores that sell drugs chemical and  dangerous poisons, without pharmacists. Then the government may have a problem,

The figure was 500 to be registered by the end of the year.

That is not even 1%.

Another excuse for collecting bribes?

I can just see it now... After registering the 500 establishments there will be some poo-yai photo-op, the problem will be declared solved, and this will all be promptly forgotten.

The more I ponder this, I wouldn't be surprised if the provocation for having this crackdown now (remember, the registered pharmacist law has been on the books forever) has to do with an attempt to build up some good publicity for the Health Ministry which recently has been ridden with scandal, in-fighting and back-stabbing. Nothing like a good ol' Thai crackdown to get people focused elsewhere.

[udon]

The generic equivalents from India (Kamagra, Vigora, etc) are less than 100 baht for a pack of 4 tablets, when sold over the counter in India.

Erm..... plus the 25,000b minimum to get there...... yep, sure is cheap.

[Rhys]

Really, how does this apply up-country where a "R.Ph." is needed in the village Health Station.. really, now.. you mean the medical staff can advise the villagers on the proper compliance of the med, or let alone give accurate drug information.. And heaven forbid.. the village health volunteer, with their standard set of antibotic for any ailment...just eager to give the meds out at the drop of a hat.

GPO of the MOPH... where did all the money go... Vested interest.. MP and Drug rep.. and Thai Drup compaines... are responding to the current elections hype.. but it will remain the same...

Professionalism of the medical staff.... in any contact with dispensing medication needs to be improved.... Start there.... of course that is a higher pay grade decsion, which has been paid in part by your local pharmaceutical company...

Funny this so called action.. is BANG COCK based....

[robbie22]

Under the Thai law, every drug store must employ a licensed pharmacist to make sure customers are given the correct advise on how to use drugs.

Mind you, doesn't say a thing about having a prescription, just so you get "good advice". When I walk into a pharmacy, 99 times out of a hundred the pharmacist opens his big book of drugs and tries to talk me into buying vicodin or viagra or some narcotic I don't need. How much to take? Up to me.

As to taking years to become one, what's the point? In the end all you're doing is counting pills and stuffing cotton in bottles.

I love thailand.

I am moving from the states soon and wonder what are some of the costs for meds there. I take several blood pressure meds among others things are they real cheap? How much for thirty Vicodin? just need to get an idea i have insurance but i dont believe my rx is going to be any good in LOS.

[astral]

If there are 73,000 villages in thailand and only 10% have stores that sell drugs chemical and dangerous poisons, without pharmacists. Then the government may have a problem,

There are about 10 pharmacies in the town were I live, and it is not a big place.

The goverment has a huge problem here................

[z21rhd]

If there are 73,000 villages in thailand and only 10% have stores that sell drugs chemical and dangerous poisons, without pharmacists. Then the government may have a problem,

There are about 10 pharmacies in the town were I live, and it is not a big place.

The goverment has a huge problem here................

Greetings,

In this little market town there are 6 shops selling prescribed medicine - there are no trained pharmacists,

there are no shop assistants behind the counter who know what they are selling.

As far as dangerous agricultural chemicals are concerned - many shops selling these !!

The Government pays not the slightest attention.