SE Asia

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sean123

sean123

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 3c
Hi! I'm beginning to get totally fed up of living in the UK. The weather, the cost, everything is just sapping the joy out of me. I have visited Vietnam previously and am visiting Thailand later in the year, there's interesting options over there with remote working now but my reservation is in obtaining Insulin, which is of course free in the UK (though the chemists never have it in stock, but that's for another day).
I use Fiasp before food, fast acting, about 5 pens per month, and also Tresiba, which is taken before bed as a longer lasting one, which is about 3 pens per month usually.
Does anyone have recent prices for these in SE Asia countries, please? Also are the readily available? What would I need to take to obtain them over there?
Many thanks,
Sean
 
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Insulin is NOT free. It is funded by the NHS which, in turn, is funded by tax payers.
Sorry, I know that is pedantic but when comparing costs, bear in mind taxes you will be paying when considering drugs. Average income tax, for example, is lower in Thailand.
 
seanmartin said:
Hi! I'm beginning to get totally fed up of living in the UK. The weather, the cost, everything is just sapping the joy out of me. I have visited Vietnam previously and am visiting Thailand later in the year, there's interesting options over there with remote working now but my reservation is in obtaining Insulin, which is of course free in the UK (though the chemists never have it in stock, but that's for another day).
I use Fiasp after food, fast acting, about 5 pens per month, and also Tresiba, which is taken before bed as a longer lasting one, which is about 3 pens per month usually.
Does anyone have recent prices for these in SE Asia countries, please? Also are the readily available? What would I need to take to obtain them over there?
Many thanks,
Sean
Click to expand...

Sean, we spend a bit of time in those places you mention - 3 month trips usually.

My suggestion would be to do two things. Firstly, join a local (to Thailand/Vietnam) ex-pat forum. The bods on there know all the insider tracks, but additionally, when you go later in the year, visit a good sizes pharmacy and dicuss your needs with the pharmacist.

In my experience, most, if not all pharmacists in Thailand have some English, but the bigger pharmacies tend to be better English. I stress this is just my experience.

Finally, before you go, download a translation App, and the local keyboard to your phone. That helps oooooddles with all manner of scenarios.

This is a Bangkok forum, but best to look for where you will be going. There are lots around on this site: https://aseannow.com/forum/38-bangkok/

The transaltion App I used on my iPhone is just called Translator. It is even free, and can translate from a photo too. This is it: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/english-thai-translator/id1574866669

Enjoy!
 
helli said:
Insulin is NOT free. It is funded by the NHS which, in turn, is funded by tax payers.
Sorry, I know that is pedantic but when comparing costs, bear in mind taxes you will be paying when considering drugs. Average income tax, for example, is lower in Thailand.
Click to expand...
you know what I meant....free as I don't have to pay for it directly
 
AndBreathe said:
Sean, we spend a bit of time in those places you mention - 3 month trips usually.

My suggestion would be to do two things. Firstly, join a local (to Thailand/Vietnam) ex-pat forum. The bods on there know all the insider tracks, but additionally, when you go later in the year, visit a good sizes pharmacy and dicuss your needs with the pharmacist.

In my experience, most, if not all pharmacists in Thailand have some English, but the bigger pharmacies tend to be better English. I stress this is just my experience.

Finally, before you go, download a translation App, and the local keyboard to your phone. That helps oooooddles with all manner of scenarios.

This is a Bangkok forum, but best to look for where you will be going. There are lots around on this site: https://aseannow.com/forum/38-bangkok/

The transaltion App I used on my iPhone is just called Translator. It is even free, and can translate from a photo too. This is it: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/english-thai-translator/id1574866669

Enjoy!
Click to expand...
thank you, that's really helpful!
 
seanmartin said:
thank you, that's really helpful!
Click to expand...
Honestly; do LOTS of research. Things are never totally straightforward in SE Asia, in my experience.

We use family property when we go there, and my brother has property in Vietnam, so we have n ever rented.

Do you know where you will be in Thailand, in particular?

When doing any sums, please do factor in long term health insurance. Medical care is cheap in Thailand, but it can all add up, if you aren't insured.

This website might also be helpful: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries.jsp

seanmartin said:
thank you, that's really helpful!
Click to expand...
Please do LOTS of research. There are usually some wrinkles in processes and systems in SE Asia, and ensure you factor in very good health insurance.

Medical treatment is cheaper than in UK, but it can add up, in no time, especially as both countries you mention are keen on admitting folks to hospital.

This website might be useful: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries.jsp

Do you know where you will be based in Thailand?
 
AndBreathe said:
Honestly; do LOTS of research. Things are never totally straightforward in SE Asia, in my experience.

We use family property when we go there, and my brother has property in Vietnam, so we have n ever rented.

Do you know where you will be in Thailand, in particular?

When doing any sums, please do factor in long term health insurance. Medical care is cheap in Thailand, but it can all add up, if you aren't insured.

This website might also be helpful: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries.jsp


Please do LOTS of research. There are usually some wrinkles in processes and systems in SE Asia, and ensure you factor in very good health insurance.

Medical treatment is cheaper than in UK, but it can add up, in no time, especially as both countries you mention are keen on admitting folks to hospital.

This website might be useful: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries.jsp

Do you know where you will be based in Thailand?
Click to expand...
I'm going to do a tour of the South I think, though the locations change weekly because I get excited when I see somewhere but there's only 2 weeks to fit everything in, probably Pattaya for a day or 2, Hua Hin, Bankgok day 1 and last day because of the flights, maybe visit Kanchanburi, but its open ended really. But to live? Possibly in Chiang Mai as it seems a chilled but bustling at the same time kind of place, but all I know for certain is it wont be Bangkok because that's too chaotic for my liking.
I've been researching it on and off for years, was doing a Masters with a view to moving to Vietnam before I was hospitalised and became diabetic in 2019, but I think like you said asking questions in country will be the most fruitful answer wise.
Property I'm not too concerned about, its mainly just the medical side of it. I am sort of complicated medically so proper insurance is a must, but even if I just get a year or two then come back to the rain and rate race, I think that would be enough.
 
sean123 said:
I'm going to do a tour of the South I think, though the locations change weekly because I get excited when I see somewhere but there's only 2 weeks to fit everything in, probably Pattaya for a day or 2, Hua Hin, Bankgok day 1 and last day because of the flights, maybe visit Kanchanburi, but its open ended really. But to live? Possibly in Chiang Mai as it seems a chilled but bustling at the same time kind of place, but all I know for certain is it wont be Bangkok because that's too chaotic for my liking.
I've been researching it on and off for years, was doing a Masters with a view to moving to Vietnam before I was hospitalised and became diabetic in 2019, but I think like you said asking questions in country will be the most fruitful answer wise.
Property I'm not too concerned about, its mainly just the medical side of it. I am sort of complicated medically so proper insurance is a must, but even if I just get a year or two then come back to the rain and rate race, I think that would be enough.
Click to expand...
If you haven’t been to Kanchanaburi before, whatever you do, don’t rush it. There is so much to see and do, and polar opposite to Pattaya. Walking the railway and visiting the Anzac museum is very worth it. Visiting a war graves cemetery is sobering beyond words. Row upon row of little headstones, almost all under 30 years old when they died.

The War Graves Commission did miraculous work to identify and bury each soldier, although the Japanese record keeping helped a bit.

Pattaya has a large ex-pat community and a very good pharmacy. We are based mid way between Pattaya and Bang Saray, in a quiet fishing village.

There are several decent English speaking lawyers in Pattaya, and also online. It could be worth a hour of someone’s time to go through all the wrinkles of the various visas.

I love that part of the world, but could never fully live there. We do 90 day visas. We avoid the worst of winter, but still have all the upsides of UK living, but a decent break from the twaddle that is all around us these days.
 
sean123 said:
Hi! I'm beginning to get totally fed up of living in the UK. The weather, the cost, everything is just sapping the joy out of me. I have visited Vietnam previously and am visiting Thailand later in the year, there's interesting options over there with remote working now but my reservation is in obtaining Insulin, which is of course free in the UK (though the chemists never have it in stock, but that's for another day).
I use Fiasp before food, fast acting, about 5 pens per month, and also Tresiba, which is taken before bed as a longer lasting one, which is about 3 pens per month usually.
Does anyone have recent prices for these in SE Asia countries, please? Also are the readily available? What would I need to take to obtain them over there?
Many thanks,
Sean
Click to expand...
Hi Sean, I think the best advice given by Andbreathe is to join an expat forum as it has a wealth of information. I have no experience of medical matters in Vietnam but generally there is no problem obtaining medical supplies in countries like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia as I spend quite a bit of time in these parts. I know a diabetic friend in Indonesia that comes to Malaysia for his medical supplies but seeks treatment in Singapore. I myself have recently had to seek emergency treatment in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) just to give an idea of the cost. A visit to a GP cost approx. £6. Unfortunately was referred to a heart specialist whose consultation fee was approx £15 followed by an angiogram and overnight stay of approx. £1300 but that is without needing stents as that could easily double to triple the price if stents are required. There were many other costs but relatively reasonable in comparison to U.K. or even Singapore. Insurance is therefore highly recommended.
 
Swilko said:
Hi Sean, I think the best advice given by Andbreathe is to join an expat forum as it has a wealth of information. I have no experience of medical matters in Vietnam but generally there is no problem obtaining medical supplies in countries like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia as I spend quite a bit of time in these parts. I know a diabetic friend in Indonesia that comes to Malaysia for his medical supplies but seeks treatment in Singapore. I myself have recently had to seek emergency treatment in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) just to give an idea of the cost. A visit to a GP cost approx. £6. Unfortunately was referred to a heart specialist whose consultation fee was approx £15 followed by an angiogram and overnight stay of approx. £1300 but that is without needing stents as that could easily double to triple the price if stents are required. There were many other costs but relatively reasonable in comparison to U.K. or even Singapore. Insurance is therefore highly recommended.
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Thailand isn't quite that cheap.

Unfortunately, last trip we had to call upon the services of the local hospital, for a dog bite my partner sustained. Fast forward full rabies regime.

That said, 4 doses of vaccine, plus immunoglobulin, plus 5 dressing changes and packing (I did the dressing changes, irrigation and packing on the other days) came to just under £400, including antibiotics, antihistamines and painkillers. Just under the threshold for the insurance excess.

I do know of someone hospitalised by Denge whose bill was rather significant for 2 weeks as an inpatient, and of course, in Thailand and Vietnam, most nursing services, aside from the administration of drugs or dressings, are pretty much left to family or friends, so that needs to be factored in.

On the upside; we walked into the hospital, explained what had happened and were taken to a consultation room immediately.

Leaving with a little bag of unfinished dressings, iodine and so on was a bit of a culture shock. 🙂

Not something we'd like to repeat.
 
Thanks both, will bear it all in mind.
Just had another delay at the chemist, its only insulin not like I need it.... every month there's a delay, now its been a week. Guess I'm going full keto if I run out.
Another nail in the coffin of this country. Nothing works properly anymore.
 
sean123 said:
Just had another delay at the chemist, its only insulin not like I need it.... every month there's a delay, now its been a week.
Click to expand...
How far in advance do you order your insulin?
I always make sure I have at least 2 weeks worth of insulin (and needles and strip and CGM) when I request a repeat to allow for delays.
Some doctors try to restrict this but I believe most people have managed to argue the need for backups.
If it is not delays, I may need more due insulin to illness or find a cartridge is damaged.
 
helli said:
How far in advance do you order your insulin?
I always make sure I have at least 2 weeks worth of insulin (and needles and strip and CGM) when I request a repeat to allow for delays.
Some doctors try to restrict this but I believe most people have managed to argue the need for backups.
If it is not delays, I may need more due insulin to illness or find a cartridge is damaged.
Click to expand...
I put the order in every 28 days now without fail, Dr won't approve it any earlier. I've never had a cartridge but they said to me earlier that its gone to Meds Management hub (something like that) and that I may be getting cartridge's. Shouldn't be this difficult.
 
sean123 said:
Thanks both, will bear it all in mind.
Just had another delay at the chemist, its only insulin not like I need it.... every month there's a delay, now its been a week. Guess I'm going full keto if I run out.
Another nail in the coffin of this country. Nothing works properly anymore.
Click to expand...
Be aware that in the sorts of places you are going you may not be able to source the brands you are used to.

I was a total numpty this year. I forgot to take my BP medication. Had my thyroid stuff, but nothing for BP. I ended up in the big pharmacy (and it is big - you can buy anything from Fisherman's Friend lozenges to a hospital bed), with MIMS open on my phone, working out a compatible option from what was available.

If you are going to Pattaya, although the "big pharmacy" is about 20 minutes out, it might be worth a visit, just to assess things.

On the Thai Visa forum, there is a lady called Cheryl who is the go-to for matters medical. Obviously, not for treatment or medical advice, but she knows where "the best" folks are for certain conditions. She certainly posts on the medical forum.

Aside from European ex-pats, I have never seen anyone sporting a Libre or a pump, so worth bearing that in mind too.

Perhaps a multi-entry visa could be best for you and splitting the year with 3 month trips whereby the NHS would still look after you (in UK), but your medical risks are reduced by a margin by being able to travel with meds and sundries, sourced in UK.

Just a thought.
 
AndBreathe said:
Be aware that in the sorts of places you are going you may not be able to source the brands you are used to.

I was a total numpty this year. I forgot to take my BP medication. Had my thyroid stuff, but nothing for BP. I ended up in the big pharmacy (and it is big - you can buy anything from Fisherman's Friend lozenges to a hospital bed), with MIMS open on my phone, working out a compatible option from what was available.

If you are going to Pattaya, although the "big pharmacy" is about 20 minutes out, it might be worth a visit, just to assess things.

On the Thai Visa forum, there is a lady called Cheryl who is the go-to for matters medical. Obviously, not for treatment or medical advice, but she knows where "the best" folks are for certain conditions. She certainly posts on the medical forum.

Aside from European ex-pats, I have never seen anyone sporting a Libre or a pump, so worth bearing that in mind too.

Perhaps a multi-entry visa could be best for you and splitting the year with 3 month trips whereby the NHS would still look after you (in UK), but your medical risks are reduced by a margin by being able to travel with meds and sundries, sourced in UK.

Just a thought.
Click to expand...
The branding I'm not too fearful of, as long as it does the same job - I don't tend to have bad reactions to different meds so I should be okay (touch wood).

Being free from the Libre would be a blessing, my brain gets fixated with the numbers, going back to a few finger pricks per day would be a nice change, weirdly.

The Thai forum took a while to approve my membership, but that's tonights task, to speak to them see what they say.

Can't see me doing three month stints, that'd mean keeping my rented flat on in the UK and that's just a waste of money so it'd be a full on year minimum I reckon.
 
sean123 said:
I put the order in every 28 days now without fail, Dr won't approve it any earlier. I've never had a cartridge but they said to me earlier that its gone to Meds Management hub (something like that) and that I may be getting cartridge's. Shouldn't be this difficult.
Click to expand...
Is it worth asking your Doctor to increase the number of pens/cartridges if you are close to getting through each script every month which is making things tight with things like supplies issues or needing more insulin?
I do not put my script in on a regular cadence - it is based on my need which is more like every 2 months with the option to "stockpile" a little in preparation for holiday or Christmas (or sickness) when I cannot get to the pharmacy and have a bigger gap afterwards.
In addition, I have a different cadence for each of the items on the script - my Libre and insulin are around the same time but my strips are less often and my insulin pens (I have a pump so the pens are just back up) are more like annually.
 
helli said:
Is it worth asking your Doctor to increase the number of pens/cartridges if you are close to getting through each script every month which is making things tight with things like supplies issues or needing more insulin?
I do not put my script in on a regular cadence - it is based on my need which is more like every 2 months with the option to "stockpile" a little in preparation for holiday or Christmas (or sickness) when I cannot get to the pharmacy and have a bigger gap afterwards.
In addition, I have a different cadence for each of the items on the script - my Libre and insulin are around the same time but my strips are less often and my insulin pens (I have a pump so the pens are just back up) are more like annually.
Click to expand...
The diabetes team have previously increased me from 5 to 6 Fiasp pens as a cover measure, so I always have that one spare. I do it at 28 days just for the regularity of it, I always use the 5 and there's always a delay of a day or 2 in receiving them.

Just been back to the chemist, they said earlier on today to come back...they're now saying there's a national shortage and that I'll get a phone call when they figure something out.
 
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