Pharmacies

[groo]

Most of us need medications some time or another, some of us need it for everyday use. Wondering if some of you guys know of any pharmacies that is generally cheaper than others. I normally go to Dalla Pharmacy across Shell Gas Station on Keaw Nawarat Road but find that he is a little bit too much on the "business minded" side. I am one of them who needs a certain drug everyday and buying it every month is starting to be a burden.

anyone know of a good pharmacy known for selling drugs not at premium prices? (I have my prescriptions)

Edited April 1, 2006 by groo

[Maejo Man]

It depends what value you place on your health and well being I suppose. You can go to the "hole in the wall" drugstore in Sompet Market and get most drugs at vastly reduced rates. However, with the sun beating down on them all day long I think I'll stick to the air con ones opposite the side of the Montri Hotel.

[Ulysses G.]

The first air-con one as you come from Moon Muang road is great.

Pretty girls, excellent English and they really know their stuff.

[groo]

The first air-con one as you come from Moon Muang road is great.

Pretty girls, excellent English and they really know their stuff.

Pretty Girls, now that drug can be habit forming. User discreation advised.

[Ajarn]

I've known the Chinese couple who owns Pharma Choice since I moved here. They consistantly provide me with anything I need, from blood monitors to canes to drugs. I have never found a shop that is cheaper. but I'm sure someone will give me an example if there is one! Plus, they are everywhere. The main shop is still Chotana, but you should have good luck at all their stores.

053-215-379 is that number, plus, from the internet...

Pharma Choice 3 808325, 2778863

25 Suthep Rd.,

T. Suthep,

A. Muang,

Chiang Mai 50200 Fax: 808325

[PeaceBlondie]

My vote, perhaps for the first time, is with Ulysses G. Also, when you go into the lower level of Central Kad Kaew, past KFC toward Tops, the guy on the right, just opposite the entrance to Tops, is good. Maybe his prices are a little higher than others, but he seems competent and understands English well. You can have a pharmaceutical discussion, telling him your symptoms, your allergies, etc.

[Ulysses G.]

I like that guy too.

[groo]

yeah i met that guy at KSK. thanks everyone for your replies. will check out the pharmacy just off moonmuang.

ajarn, i have been to some pharma choice places and they are negotiable on their prices. not bad people actually and much better than some of the other places i have been to.

Edited April 2, 2006 by groo

[j_mack]

It depends what value you place on your health and well being I suppose. You can go to the "hole in the wall" drugstore in Sompet Market and get most drugs at vastly reduced rates. However, with the sun beating down on them all day long I think I'll stick to the air con ones opposite the side of the Montri Hotel.

I second that < Good service and Good English Too > [ Besides ''the above'' ] from the Air-con ones near the Montri.

[seeker108]

From my experience, the pharmacy in Maharaj (formerly Suandok) hospital is at least 25% cheaper than commercial pharmacies. Not sure if you need a prescription from a doctor there or can just walk in with a prescription from elsewhere. But since it costs almost nothing for the services there it may be worth it to sign up as a patient there as well.

[Ajarn]

From my experience, the pharmacy in Maharaj (formerly Suandok) hospital is at least 25% cheaper than commercial pharmacies. Not sure if you need a prescription from a doctor there or can just walk in with a prescription from elsewhere. But since it costs almost nothing for the services there it may be worth it to sign up as a patient there as well.

It's my understanding that that pharmacy, being a government facility, offers drugs at cost, Plus 10%. Tough to beat that price, but it sure isn't convenient getting any meds there most of the time. Too many people.

[PeaceBlondie]

Maybe it depends when you go to the Maharaj pharmacy, but I've never waited over ten minutes. Compare that to a govt. hospital pharmacy in the USA!

Maharaj is one of the few places you can get Rubifen (Ritalin), and the consultation with the neurologist is the standard 350 baht. And Rubifen there is half the price that Ritalin is in the USA. I suspect that on less controlled drugs, the ratio is more like 4:1 or 10:1. When pharmacists in Thailand warn me that my prescription may cost me 30 baht per pill, I tell them that back home, some pills cost 2,200 baht!

Viagra costs between 400 and 500 baht for a shrinkpack of four 100mg tablets, that would cost you maybe 1,900 baht in the USA, plus 4,000 baht to get the script from the physician.

[seeker108]

I think things may have improved there Ajarn, as the 3 times I've gotten something I did not wait at all. They had the prescription waiting for me by the time I walked the 2 minutes from the payment counter all 3 times. Or maybe I was just lucky.

Though you are right that it is not so convenient in that you need to pay in one area then walk a couple of minutes to the pharmacy and where you park is probably a couple of minutes walk from either place. Though, as I need the exercise, I always look at that as a bonus treatment.

Edited April 3, 2006 by seeker108

[Ajarn]

I think things may have improved there Ajarn, as the 3 times I've gotten something I did not wait at all. They had the prescription waiting for me by the time I walked the 2 minutes from the payment counter all 3 times. Or maybe I was just lucky.

Admittedly, it's been a few years since my last visit. Glad to hear of improvement. That huge hall had a terrible echo-effect, making understanding your name when called difficult among the masses...

[groo]

I think things may have improved there Ajarn, as the 3 times I've gotten something I did not wait at all. They had the prescription waiting for me by the time I walked the 2 minutes from the payment counter all 3 times. Or maybe I was just lucky.

Admittedly, it's been a few years since my last visit. Glad to hear of improvement. That huge hall had a terrible echo-effect, making understanding your name when called difficult among the masses...

possible to buy if i have a prescription from somewhere else??? also its the hospital where u passby amari rincome on your left pass the trafiic lights coming from the superhighway? i have seen a sign saying maharaj hospital. nimmanheiman road?

[seeker108]

It is on Suthep Rd. near the road that is on the western side of the moat around the old city (Bunruang Rit Rd., which further south is Mahidol Rd.). You should probably start by registering at the Family Medical Center as a patient. FMC is right on Bunruang Rit Rd about 70 meters north of Suthep Rd.

I don't know about getting your prescription filled there if you are not registered as a patient with Maharaj or FMC. Maybe you can, but may as well register as it is free to register and doctors visits there are no more than 30 baht and often free from what I can tell.

I guess you should bring a Thai speaker with you if your Thai is not real good, if you have any complicated questions, though I have usually done fine there with my minimal Thai. Real nice folks there at FMC and Maharaj in general. There is even a nice American doctor there usually on Wed, Th and/or Fri.

I usually park there in front or on the side of FMC and then walk in to the hospital complex from there for whatever I need in the hospital itself. Good luck.

[tango]

The Chiangmai University Drug Store on the North side of Suthep about 300 meters from the Nimmenheiman intersection going towards Maharaj Hospital and the moat is recomended highly. I had a discount card while teaching at CMU. They have a 5% discount card available to anyone 60 and over, for the asking. Even without the card the prices IMO are among the lowest in CMai.

I also recommend the private drug store, Yuenyong Drugs - Ms Tanate Chatanawut,BSc MBA, at the Three Kings Monument, about 4 shophouses down on the left as you look at the Square. She is often on business in Bangkok but the staff too are great. The Special Medical Center to the front and right of Maharaj is highly recommended, and has beds for prolonged care. I notice this year that my Blue Cross no longer covers Ram, probably because of high costs especially drugs. I've been using Blue Cross because, if you join before age 60, it covers you throughout your life provided you maintain yearly coverage, unlike most others where you are cut off at age 70 when chances are you will most need it. I also recommend the Chiengmai Klaimoor on the left before you reach Lotus South of Airport plaza. I had gone there initially because a doctor there was my English student. He's now in his 2nd year as an internist in New York, but I go back because the service is great inexpensive, and the boutique-hotel-like rooms are classy and well below Ram's room prices.

Many of the doctors in CMai are the same ones on call at most hospitals, in my experience.

From their 2006 brochure, Blue Cross now covers only six medical establishments in Chiangmai:

1 Special Medical Center

2 Chiengmai Klaimoor

3 Rachawej Chiang Mai (former condo opposite the old 4 Seasons)

4 Lanna ( friends have been there, all recommend it)

5 McCormick

6 Dr Wongse (no idea who, what where)

For what it's worth...cheers

[Ulysses G.]

6 Dr Wongse (no idea who, what where)

I think that it is across the street from the Sheraton which used to be the Weston of great buffet fame.

[chanchao]

One thing to note is that it's not just a case of one pharmacy being cheaper than another, what also counts is if the place is willing to sell stuff at wholesale quantities for a vastly reduced price. You woulnd't believe the difference between buying a strip of 10 pills of something, or buying the whole box with 50 strips in it.

(At places willing to play ball)

Cheers,

Chanchao

[groo]

One thing to note is that it's not just a case of one pharmacy being cheaper than another, what also counts is if the place is willing to sell stuff at wholesale quantities for a vastly reduced price. You woulnd't believe the difference between buying a strip of 10 pills of something, or buying the whole box with 50 strips in it.

(At places willing to play ball)

Cheers,

Chanchao

now we're talking ! . ok .. any ideas of these places???? i doubt chiangmai university pharmacy would be one of them.

[Sansai Sam]

On the 4th floor of the airport plaza over near the Power Buy store is a place called FAMA and they will sell discounted by the box.