Hello,
I have a family member in Vietnam who needs Revlimid.
The problem is that this medicine is not available there.
We have a Vietnamese doctor's prescription ( in english) but nowhere to buy.
Do any of you know of a way that we can get it? (no charity required, just a place that can ship to Vietnam)
Thanks
Forums
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Re: A way to buy Revlimid in Vietnam
Have you tried just taking the Vietnamese doctor's prescription to a pharmacy where you live -- especially a major chain -- and asking for their assistance in getting it filled?
There are restrictions on which pharmacies can actually fill a Revlimid prescription, but a large pharmacy chain may be able to help you go through the necessary hoops.
I'm not optimistic you'll be successful with this approach, but it's worth trying.
If that doesn't work, the next alternative is to call Celgene, the company that sells Revlimid, and ask them what to do.
And if that doesn't work, I think the only other alternative is to try a pharmacy somewhere outside of your home country (USA?). Some intensive Googling should turn up a number of alternatives.
Good luck to you and your family member.
There are restrictions on which pharmacies can actually fill a Revlimid prescription, but a large pharmacy chain may be able to help you go through the necessary hoops.
I'm not optimistic you'll be successful with this approach, but it's worth trying.
If that doesn't work, the next alternative is to call Celgene, the company that sells Revlimid, and ask them what to do.
And if that doesn't work, I think the only other alternative is to try a pharmacy somewhere outside of your home country (USA?). Some intensive Googling should turn up a number of alternatives.
Good luck to you and your family member.
Re: A way to buy Revlimid in Vietnam
Alright, I feel you. We are from another South East Asian country, and there's no way to buy myeloma drugs here.
Your best bet would be to go to Singapore to get the medicines. Make sure you go to government's hospitals, such as Singapore General Hospital (SGH). DO NOT go to private hospitals--they will charge you big time. Nevertheless, at SGH, medicines will still be very expensive--get ready. But you can always do the GST (Singaporean tax) refund at the airport.
There's also a non-original myeloma drugs flying out there, including Velcade and Revlimid. These drugs are, again, not original, not patented, and frankly speaking, we don't know what's the ingredient. These drugs, whatever you want to call it, cost about one-third, or less, of the patented medicines. The best thing about it is: it works. A lot of people in the developing countries, mainly in India, who are poor and diagnosed with myeloma, use these drugs to survive. I met an Indian patient in the hospital, and he told me about this. But I have not used them; I don't want to risk my Dad. This would be our last resort.
Also, Velcade is available in our country (Indonesia). But it costs about 20% more expensive than the price in SGH. Chances are, Revlimid costs more expensive in Vietnam, too.
Good luck. It's tough to have myeloma; but it's even tougher when your country's health care service is terrible.
Your best bet would be to go to Singapore to get the medicines. Make sure you go to government's hospitals, such as Singapore General Hospital (SGH). DO NOT go to private hospitals--they will charge you big time. Nevertheless, at SGH, medicines will still be very expensive--get ready. But you can always do the GST (Singaporean tax) refund at the airport.
There's also a non-original myeloma drugs flying out there, including Velcade and Revlimid. These drugs are, again, not original, not patented, and frankly speaking, we don't know what's the ingredient. These drugs, whatever you want to call it, cost about one-third, or less, of the patented medicines. The best thing about it is: it works. A lot of people in the developing countries, mainly in India, who are poor and diagnosed with myeloma, use these drugs to survive. I met an Indian patient in the hospital, and he told me about this. But I have not used them; I don't want to risk my Dad. This would be our last resort.
Also, Velcade is available in our country (Indonesia). But it costs about 20% more expensive than the price in SGH. Chances are, Revlimid costs more expensive in Vietnam, too.
Good luck. It's tough to have myeloma; but it's even tougher when your country's health care service is terrible.
Re: A way to buy Revlimid in Vietnam
Hello my friend,
I understand your problem. It is hard to live in place with a bad healthcare system.
when my uncle, who lives in Russia needed to buy his Adcetris we looked for a
good place for a very long time. Finally we found a online pharmacy called that accepted our prescription and shipped the Adcetris to Russia.
I understand your problem. It is hard to live in place with a bad healthcare system.
when my uncle, who lives in Russia needed to buy his Adcetris we looked for a
good place for a very long time. Finally we found a online pharmacy called that accepted our prescription and shipped the Adcetris to Russia.
Re: A way to buy Revlimid in Vietnam
Thats too bad it's like that. I have a brand new prescription un-opened 25 mg . the doctor wrote the wrong miligrams for me. i was suppose to get 10 mg. I tried to get them to take the bottle back to the pharmacy,or donate it. but i guess they can't do that, i might be against the law or something to give away someone else's prescription. That's too bad, because the seal 's not been broken. What a waste of money, when it could go to someone who really needs it and can't afford it.
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hisierra1 - Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: april,2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: A way to buy Revlimid in Vietnam
The key to cheaper Revlimid in Singapore is not which hospital -public or private, but which doctor. Doctors who subspecialize in myeloma usually have closer working relationship with certain pharmas and these doctors could get you compassionate doses easily or at least procure the doses at cheaper rates.. You could check with the myeloma Drs in SGH, NUH or Raffles.
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Htutkhin
Re: A way to buy Revlimid in Vietnam
I have to disagree. We started at a private hospital, and injections costed twice more expensive than in SGH. Doctors in private hospitals own clinics, so they run business. Doctors at public hospitals are paid by salary by the government. One doctor can work at two hospitals, one private and one public. They usually start at public, to build reputation and experience, to eventually own a clinic at private hospital to make money. One can't be rich-rich if he/she pursues a long term career at public hospital.
Even until now, our orthopaedics works at both SGH and another public hospital I don't want to disclose.
Even until now, our orthopaedics works at both SGH and another public hospital I don't want to disclose.
Re: A way to buy Revlimid in Vietnam
We paid $ 11,000 per box of Revlimid at a public hospital . As a foreigner, my mum did not qualify for a compassionate scheme they have for Singapre patients. At a myeloma gathering recently, I found that a fellow overseas patient seeing a private Dr pays for each box at a slightly higher price, but gets 9 boxes free after 4 boxes ! We should have done some homework !
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htutkhin
Re: A way to buy Revlimid in Vietnam
My doctor also mentioned about the free boxes; the pharma had a campaign back then. I'm also a foreigner. I pay surcharges; but it is still cheaper than the drug price in my country.
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