Q729. Getting prescription

medication while traveling in India

Question: I am not an NRI, but a US citizen traveling to India for six months to a year to volunteer for an NGO. I was hoping, however, you would be kind enough to answer my question anyway. I take several prescription medications, so I believe I need either to have someone fill the prescriptions in the US and mail them to me in India, or get new prescriptions from an India doctor. I am concerned about the cost of shipping, as the prescriptions are not lifesaving. Do you know how much the duty fees might be? I did find this website with some instructions -- does this mean I should enclose a copy of my prescription every time I send the medication? If I get prescriptions from an India doctor, what precautions should I take to ensure the medication is not missing an active ingredient, or otherwise faulty? Thank you so much for your help! Kim Answer: Normally prescription drugs taken for personal use do not attract customs duties. Here are some suggestions that you can mull over: • Just about every medicine is now available in India. The generic name may be different in India than in the United States but the drug manufacturer and medication is usually the same. • Getting a prescription from a doctor in India is not a problem. I find most pharmacies will not even ask for a prescription if the customer knows what they want. • Verifying a drug for authenticity is not easy unless you send the drug to a lab. However, while fake drugs is a worldwide problem including in the United States to some extent, millions of Indians do buy their medication at local drug stores. The only way to have peace of mind would be to take the medication you require along with you when you go to India. I have stayed in India for extended periods of up to five months in the past and on every occasion taken a six month supply of my prescription drugs. Just remember to: o Carry the prescriptions in your carry on baggage in case checked baggage is lost or delayed. o Take along a copy of your prescription o Prescription containers should show your name as labeled by the dispensing pharmacist. While having the medicines shipped to you from USA to India is always an option, In addition to the cost, the paperwork and delays are something that is troublesome. If you decide to buy the prescription drugs in India, purchase from reputable pharmacies and always get a receipt for your purchase. Here are two website links to articles you may consider reading: 1. Foreigners - Tourists buying medicines in India: http://www.travelindiasmart.com/plan indiavisit.php 2. Be Aware of Fake Drugs: http://informedbuying.net/fake_drugs. htm