Acquiring malaria pills in Indonesia

Before I left Australia a doctor gave me 21 tablets of Doxy. Now, I told him I'm staying 2-3 months in Indonesia, but since Doxy is supposed to be taken every single day I'm guessing he thought I said 2-3 weeks...does it sound like I have that right?

I'm currently in Bali and will be going to Lombok in the next couple of weeks. Will I be able to find a doctor to prescribe more pills in Lombok or should I go to the Bali International Medical Centre in Kuta, Bali before I leave the island?

Hi,
One of the joys of Indonesia is that you can get medicines very easily over the counter. Technically you are supposed to have a doctor's prescription, but in practice most pharmacies will dish out anything you want if you know the name. I regularly buy antibiotics over the counter, and I know that you can get doxycycline. Absolutely, catagorically do NOT go to Bali International Medical Centre, or any of the "tourist clinics"; you will pay through the nose for anything you buy there, and they will probably make you see a doctor, and pay through the nose for that too (and travel insurance is unlikely to cover you for preventative treatment). Just go to any regular pharmacy (try to go to one out of the resort area or you'll pay an inflated price) and they they will happily provide you with as much doxycycline as you need. They may ask what it's for, and may be a little confused if you say it's for malaria prophylaxis (not its normal use), but there should be no problem... if they won't give it to you (highly unlikely) just try another pharmacy.
Incidentally, doctors in Indonesia are unlikely to be familiar with malaria prophylaxis, though they will know all about treating the disease itself... you definitely don't need to waste your cash seeing one...
Doxycycline is a fairly widely used antibiotic and most pharmacies should stock it. You'll certainly be able to get it in Lombok...
Pharmacy is "apotik" in Indonesian by the way...

I disagree with TimDog. I would go to a top-notch clinic like International SOS in Kuta-- just to make sure that the Doxy is indeed Doxy and not expired. While most likely you'd be fine with a local prescription, I'm not so sure about Indonesian regulatory standards and pharmaceuticals. Even if it costs a little more, it's piece of mind.

Just to reaffirm (I live in Indonesia by the way) if you go to one of the "international" clinics you will pay an absurdly over-inflated price, and they will push you to see a doctor, which is NOT necessary. I once went to an international clinic in Kuta (a long time ago, the first time I came to Indonesia, before I came to live). I was charged a HUGE amount for a brief consultation, and for a bundle of medicines. I had a nasty stomach bug. After i finished the course a week later i was still just as sick. By this time i was in darkest Sumbawa, and mercifully, there were no "international" clinics in sight. I had to go to a regular doctor in a grubby little office in the one-horse town of Dompu. I showed him what I'd been taking and he was outraged - it was completely the wrong thing. He gave me a four-day course of Ciprofloxacin, and charged me a fraction of what I'd paid in Kuta - and in two days I was better.
I repeat - doxycycline is a standard antibiotic with many uses, and is widely available - buy it from a pharmacy outside of the resort area - go to an upmarket one in a shopping mall if #2 has planted seeds of doubt in your mind - check the expiry date, and you'll have no problems. From a "top-notch" clinic you will pay far beyond "a little more".

Sounds like TimDog had a bad experience. He didn't mention the particular clinic. I've traveled extensively in SEA, on occasion I've been to SOS clinics in Beijing, Kuta, JKT, and HMC. I've received really excellent medical care. One particular nasty spider bite that made my arm swell up and high high fever....Anyway, I think it's a French and Singaporean operation and have both expat and local medical staff. Also when I was there, I noticed the clinics stock a variety of medicines in a store, no need to see a doctor; just ask and you can buy it. Not sure what the Doxy costs, I would call and ask them...simple enough.

much thanks for the advice to all--sounds like a shopping mall is the place to go for me :)

Do you really need doxy at all? we have travelled to bali many times and india and nepal and fiji and lived in arnhem land without antimalarials , including our young daughter . there is malaria on lombok yes but i have heard of taking vitamin B as a prophylaxis ( preventative) preferably one month before. you could also protect yourself with long clothes at night and early morn and mosquito nets. long term antibiotic use is not really reccomended ( i am but a nurse) but i think taking doxycyclene for this long may not be so good for your natural flora in your gut.

I have taken doxycycline for that long before with no ill effects (and good old-fashioned Chloroquine and proguanil for as long as six months). I don't take malaria preventatives now as I am based in (malaria-free) Surabaya and visits to endemic areas are too short to make taking pills worth-while. But for an extended trip, especially one venturing beyond Lombok into the depths of Nusa Tenggara I would recommend it... Sumbawa and Sumba in particular have serious malaria problems...

I did a little research on the subject of buying prescription drugs at pharmacies in Indonesia and came across the following link, http://www.expat.or.id/medical/pharmacies.html.

Looks like major pharmacy chains at larger shopping malls are OK (provided that it is in stock and the pharmacist can speak decent English--shouldnt be a problem in Bali, I'd think). It says to avoid buying pharmaceuticals from roadside vendors because medicines can be faked or expired, and that while International clinics will have in stock, they may require you to see a doctor. Hope this is helpful. Good luck.

Hi BellaPHL,
There is a BIG difference between roadside vendors and pharmacies, and it's a well-known issue in Indonesia which locals are well aware of, though poor people continue to buy from roadside vendors as the prices charged are far less than in pharmacies - all pharmacies, not only those in malls - which gives a window into just how poor many people here are, given that from pharamcies medicines are still remarkably cheap by western standards...
recent JP article
Buying standard medicines from regular apotiks here really isn't a problem...

Thanks TimDog! Very interesting article. It sounds like a very complicated issue over there. A lot of that stuff is finding it's way to the States too as people w/o health insurance (a lot) can not afford medicines and try to buy it cheaper over the internet.

I'm kind of paranoid about getting faked, bad medicine, or even toothpaste. I was in Shanghai a month ago for business and the hotel room provided these small little tubes of generic toothpaste with toothbrushes, which were perfect for travel. I nicked a few from a housekeeping cart, 2 weeks later I read that there's a massive recall of generic Chinese toothpaste because of diethylene glycol (antifreeze) contamination... Anyway, enjoy your stay in Indonesia, I wish I was back there...