Safety of buying medications in India to bring back to USA
Jun 30, 2012, 8:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 558
Safety of buying medications in India to bring back to USA
I am looking into going to India and if so, I have been told that I could save a lot of money by buying some of the medications I have to take there.
I have been doing some reading about safety and counterfit meds and it seems it can still be a problem. One study of two cities showed that all the drugs in one city that did not pass the study or had insufficient (or no) active ingredient came from one single pharmacy in that city!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695555/
I am aware that there are laws restricting the amount brought in to USA, etc. Also aware that each year a much larger portion of meds and medication ingredients utilized in USA are manufactured in India.
Until I am certain of safety of meds I am able to procure there, I would not purchase but when one medication costs between $3,500-$5,000 a month alone (and at moment no insurance coverage), it makes me think this might be the only way I can continue taking it long term (which I need to stay healthy and alive). Being an injectible its even more important to have excellent QC and safety. It makes it worth my time to spend a good deal of my time researching this a little better.
Just wondering if anyone has experiences with this? Is buying brand name safer? How do I find one of the reputable 'pharmacies' that are there and avoid the frauds?
I have been doing some reading about safety and counterfit meds and it seems it can still be a problem. One study of two cities showed that all the drugs in one city that did not pass the study or had insufficient (or no) active ingredient came from one single pharmacy in that city!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695555/
I am aware that there are laws restricting the amount brought in to USA, etc. Also aware that each year a much larger portion of meds and medication ingredients utilized in USA are manufactured in India.
Until I am certain of safety of meds I am able to procure there, I would not purchase but when one medication costs between $3,500-$5,000 a month alone (and at moment no insurance coverage), it makes me think this might be the only way I can continue taking it long term (which I need to stay healthy and alive). Being an injectible its even more important to have excellent QC and safety. It makes it worth my time to spend a good deal of my time researching this a little better.
Just wondering if anyone has experiences with this? Is buying brand name safer? How do I find one of the reputable 'pharmacies' that are there and avoid the frauds?
Jul 1, 2012, 10:55 pm
#2
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kukukajoo, my firm is legal counsel for 2 of the larger pharmaceutical companies in india....if you are buying a large quantity then i would be more than happy to put you directly in touch with both of them (provided they manufacture this drug)....
pm me if you are interested & i can either give you the name of the companies so that you can research them yourself to find out if they make the drug, or you can give me the name of the drug & i can ask them whether they make it....
pm me if you are interested & i can either give you the name of the companies so that you can research them yourself to find out if they make the drug, or you can give me the name of the drug & i can ask them whether they make it....
Jul 1, 2012, 11:01 pm
#3
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Make sure you have prescriptions with you for whatever you are trying to bring back so that the CBP doesn't give you a very hard time.
Would Canada have reasonably priced meds? At least there you have a competent governmental agency assuring the drugs aren't counterfeit, etc.
Would Canada have reasonably priced meds? At least there you have a competent governmental agency assuring the drugs aren't counterfeit, etc.
Jul 3, 2012, 1:01 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 558
thank you.
I am aware what I am seeking is legal, and no drugs are scheduled or controlled drugs in the USA or anywhere else for that matter. One just happens to be insanely expensive here. If I was in the UK the same drug would be 7.65 GBP.
I also know of people who do this regulary or semi regularly, but none could be 100% certain that the meds they received were safe. How is one to ensure that the chemist is safe?
My charity work brings me in touch with specialists all over the world, which has enabled me to see the best in the world for the disease I have. I have specialists and contacts in India I could see for treatment if necessary to help obtain the meds and have discussed my illness and predicament with them. They were the first to suggest this to me, but at the time I had excellent insurance and didn't need to seek an alternative.
Also interesting to note that India's medical tourism is alive and growing- both specailties in orthopedic (joint replacements) and cardiac surgeries are thriving and some of the best care in the world from what I am learning and available at a fraction of the price.
I am aware what I am seeking is legal, and no drugs are scheduled or controlled drugs in the USA or anywhere else for that matter. One just happens to be insanely expensive here. If I was in the UK the same drug would be 7.65 GBP.
I also know of people who do this regulary or semi regularly, but none could be 100% certain that the meds they received were safe. How is one to ensure that the chemist is safe?
My charity work brings me in touch with specialists all over the world, which has enabled me to see the best in the world for the disease I have. I have specialists and contacts in India I could see for treatment if necessary to help obtain the meds and have discussed my illness and predicament with them. They were the first to suggest this to me, but at the time I had excellent insurance and didn't need to seek an alternative.
Also interesting to note that India's medical tourism is alive and growing- both specailties in orthopedic (joint replacements) and cardiac surgeries are thriving and some of the best care in the world from what I am learning and available at a fraction of the price.
There are legal ways available to import medicines into the US from abroad that are also available in the US. For US citizens resident (at least in part) outside of the US with medical insurance and treatment initiated outside of the US, a personal supply for a month or two are rather routinely permitted under the law. For non-US citizens/nationals/residents visiting the US importation of a wide range of prescription medicine for personal use is routinely allowed too.
As I have said before, many a federal government website puts up items that are not fully representative of what is allowed under all applicable laws and instead communicates in generalities that are not wholly correct and intended to make more people into "good" little sheep for the government.
Many an un(der)insured Indian-American -- a demographic group far more likely to have medical insurance than the American population as a whole -- legally get medicines themselves from India to the US after seeking effective treatment in India.
Personally, I have bought lots of medicine in India for use there or elsewhere and it has been as effective as or more effective (including cost-effective) than medicine procured in the US. Then again I deal with pharmacists that are well-reputed and know those whom I sent to the pharmacies on behalf of myself or others. .... and I say this as someone who is very alert to risks of adulteration of even "bottled" water.
As I have said before, many a federal government website puts up items that are not fully representative of what is allowed under all applicable laws and instead communicates in generalities that are not wholly correct and intended to make more people into "good" little sheep for the government.
Many an un(der)insured Indian-American -- a demographic group far more likely to have medical insurance than the American population as a whole -- legally get medicines themselves from India to the US after seeking effective treatment in India.
Personally, I have bought lots of medicine in India for use there or elsewhere and it has been as effective as or more effective (including cost-effective) than medicine procured in the US. Then again I deal with pharmacists that are well-reputed and know those whom I sent to the pharmacies on behalf of myself or others. .... and I say this as someone who is very alert to risks of adulteration of even "bottled" water.
Jul 3, 2012, 1:12 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 558
Thanks, I have a US and UK prescription and can get one in India as well if needed.
Canada is still very expensive and one is actually cheaper here in generic than there. Would be convenient as could be a nice weekend trip being so close and also having family in Montreal and Quebec.
In the past year as generic availability has improved, pricing has come down but still unattainable at the moment. One of the meds 2 years ago was $475 a month least expensive I could find, now its about $33.00. That isn't one I am worried about though! The pricing on the medcation I am seeking in the $thousands is for generic already and has dropped by half in the last year believe it or not and not always avail in generic which is a concern as well. Seems supply chains are unrelable or unable to keep up with demand, not really sure why there is short supply at times when I go to get refills.
Canada is still very expensive and one is actually cheaper here in generic than there. Would be convenient as could be a nice weekend trip being so close and also having family in Montreal and Quebec.
In the past year as generic availability has improved, pricing has come down but still unattainable at the moment. One of the meds 2 years ago was $475 a month least expensive I could find, now its about $33.00. That isn't one I am worried about though! The pricing on the medcation I am seeking in the $thousands is for generic already and has dropped by half in the last year believe it or not and not always avail in generic which is a concern as well. Seems supply chains are unrelable or unable to keep up with demand, not really sure why there is short supply at times when I go to get refills.
Make sure you have prescriptions with you for whatever you are trying to bring back so that the CBP doesn't give you a very hard time.
Would Canada have reasonably priced meds? At least there you have a competent governmental agency assuring the drugs aren't counterfeit, etc.
Would Canada have reasonably priced meds? At least there you have a competent governmental agency assuring the drugs aren't counterfeit, etc.
Jul 3, 2012, 8:05 pm
#8
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If I were in your shoes, I would try to obtain that particular med from the UK. The key, in my mind, is having a competent government agency assuring the safety and efficacy of the medication, and I would trust US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Japan, and Western European governments in that regard.
Jul 4, 2012, 6:51 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 558
If I were in your shoes, I would try to obtain that particular med from the UK. The key, in my mind, is having a competent government agency assuring the safety and efficacy of the medication, and I would trust US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Japan, and Western European governments in that regard.