Medication in Kenya

1777POSTS

6 years ago

Good morning everyone,

Whether it's a simple cold or a chronic illness, medication and medicine use vary from country to country and culture to culture.

When you are used to certain brands or types of drugs, being in a country like Kenya with different rules can affect your daily well-being.

Some drugs also differ in name, price, dosage, active molecule, so we would like to hear your opinion on these issues:

Have you ever had difficulties finding familiar or useful medicines for your health in your host country?

Have you ever been faced with a shortage of medicines in Kenya?

Would you have said that in Kenya drugs are more or less expensive than in your home country? Do you find them more or less effective or of similar quality?

What is the place of alternative medicines in your host country? Have you ever used them?

Thank you in advance for your feedback,

尝辞茂肠

1 member reacted to this post

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Junglerat Member

1POSTS

6 years ago

Hi Loic,

simple but complicated answer to your question is yes and no -

A lot of familiar medication is available here in Kenya but the main concern is whether it is real and actually works. Depending on the chemist i visit, i have been offered expensive varieties of simple medicines I am used to seeing in the UK (eg paracetamol, cough syrups and even viagra) but at the same time I am also offered generic copies of the same things at a fraction of the cost. The main concern is if these actually work.

Also I have found in both Tanzania and Kenya that if i visit a clinic as an expat I seem to be prescribed drugs that are only available at their pharmacy where as my Kenyan wife, with the same symptoms will get completely different pills that are just as effective !!!

One thing i have found cheaper in both countries is the anti malaria/malaria cure treatments. When buying in the UK i am charged a fortune.

As for shortages, i have not personally suffered any but then again (touch wood) i have only ever needed basic flu/cold treatments.

Sorry I cannot be more helpful

Ian

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clowery New member

6POSTS

6 years ago

I have found any medicine that I need easily attainable at the chemist. They also diagnose well. I was stunned how inexpensive the medicine that I normally would need a prescription and a copay to聽 get. If you can describe your symptoms they tend to be very accurate at the treatment. If they are uncertain the lab tests are inexpensive as well.

Jambo Rafiki New member

3POSTS

2 years ago

@尝辞茂肠 there are no shortages per say, but if you get in touch with the right persons you might get help. check out Victor *** is a certified physician assistant who offers tourist friendly emergency responses and home based disease tests .

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