10 Things You Should Know about Getting Medications in China

Have you had difficulties with finding an alternative for your usual medications in China? What common medications are not available in China and what should you obtain from your home country? Do you know that a pharmacist can help you with more than dispensing medications? Read on as Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) Clinical Pharmacist Nathan Liu and Pharmacy Manager Kathleen Tao explain how you and your family can get the most out of BJU's pharmacy. 

1. What medications commonly used overseas are not available in China?

The Pediatric 6 in 1 vaccine, Shingrix (a vaccine for shingles), and EpiPens (an emergency treatment for anaphylactic allergic reactions) are three medications that are commonly used overseas but are not available in China. Therefore, we recommend that you get the necessary vaccines in your home country or bring an EpiPen from abroad to be safe. 

The good news is that the Beijing local Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that a vaccine for shingles may become available in late 2019 or early 2020. Also, for people with allergies, the BJU Pharmacy has developed an emergency allergy treatment kit which can be used as an alternative to an EpiPen in an emergency situation before being treated properly in the hospital (note: It is by prescription only). 

2. What recommendations do you have for people whose usual medications are not available in China?

Always know what medications you are on, including indications, the medication name or brand name, form (e.g. tablet or liquid), strength, dosage, and frequency. This can be a list of your current medications with the information clearly indicated, the medication package with original pharmacy labels, or prescription(s) from a doctor. This will help your pharmacist to find out if we have an alternative available. You can also bring some medications with a prescription as mentioned above. 

3. Do I have to have a prescription to get any medications in China? 

Over-the-counter medications do not require prescriptions. However, in hospitals, we can't sell medications without medical prescriptions. Thus, you need to bring a prescription or see a Family Medicine doctor or a specialist to obtain one for your condition(s).

4. What is the difference between a hospital pharmacy and a local pharmacy down the road?

Hospital pharmacies are staffed with registered pharmacists and are able to provide you with education and counseling on the proper use of a particular medication. All of our medications are quality-controlled and we try to procure imported brand as much as possible. On the other hand, not all of the local pharmacies in China have qualified pharmacy professionals. The standard of service may not be optimal, or the quality of the medications may not be guaranteed. 

5. What are the rules for foreigners bringing in their own medications from overseas? 

If you bring medication from overseas to treat a chronic medical condition, it is highly recommended that you carry the medication with proper pharmacy labels and a medical certificate from the prescriber. The customs agents may need to confirm these at the border as you enter the country. 

6. What recommendations do you have for people taking multiple medications?

If you're taking multiple medications and seeing different doctors, you may want to consult one of our pharmacists to avoid medication-related issues such as duplications, drug-drug interactions, and medication schedule problems. They can also show you how to monitor for adverse drug reactions. 

7. Can medications still be used if they are out of date?

Most medications close to the expiry date are proven to be safe and effective, but we do not recommend using medications past their expiration date. The only exception is when it is the only medication available in an emergency situation. For example, in the event of an ischaemic heart attack, the benefits of taking expired Nitroglycerin may outweigh the risks if there is no alternative available. 

8. How can I be sure that the medications I get from BJU are safe?

We take medications seriously at BJU. We try to procure imported medications whenever possible. In rare cases, if an imported option is not available, we would source from joint adventures (i.e. joint Chinese and overseas manufacturers) or local Chinese brands after a series of investigations and ensuring it is from a reliable manufacturer. 

9. What can a pharmacist help me do?

In addition to dispensing medications, our outpatient pharmacists offer the following services: 

• Providing recommendations for minor ailments or over-the-counter medications;

• Liaising with your doctor and reviewing your prescription to ensure the medication being prescribed is safe and effective;

• Counselling you on the correct use of your medications and solving medication-related problems.

A true story: 

An American gentleman was relocating to China and wanted to find out whether he should bring his usual medications from his home country. He approached our pharmacist and was glad to find that we have exactly the same medications here at Beijing United Family Hospital. 

Kathleen Tao is the Pharmacy Manager at Beijing United Family Hospital. She is a registered pharmacist in China, the UK, and Australia. 

Nathan Liu is one of the registered pharmacists at Beijing United Family Hospital. He has more than 12 years of clinical experience.

Should you have any questions related to the medications prescribed to you at the Beijing United Family Pharmacy, you are welcome to call the 24hr pharmacy hotline at 5927 7052. To make an appointment with a BJU specialist, please call the 24hr Service Center at 4008-919191. 

• Are you planning on traveling soon? Here is BJU's Ultimate Guide to Traveling Well. 

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• Interested to know what is new in BJU for July? Click here to find out.