Hello to you all! Who can help me...?
As I have already mentioned on this platform, I may start a new job (i.e. a "New Life") on the island of Santo Alhao in the course of 2024. For how long, remains to be seen...
Although I am going to C.V. at the beginning of April, I couldn't wait to reach out to you guys, regarding my insecurity/lack of any information on the topic of how C.V. handles "foreign" prescribed medication; the point is that my daily medication is subject to very strict regulations and are considered "narcotic medication" (even in Belgium).
1/ Will it be available there?
2/ Can they get to the needed ingredients?
3/ In case the above isn't applicable; how can I ever get the medication to me?
I checked with the Belgian National Post, where I was told that all medications entering the C.V. are stopped at customs. Even painkillers!
If anyone has any experience with this kind of (possibly) practical obstacles, or if any of you can confirm that I needn't worry or rather, that it is not to be obtained on the Islands, I will be immensely grateful for your reaction.
Are the chances of finding an "International" pharmacy (or bigger, broader minded,... pharmacy) higher on one or another island? Which one(s) is/are the more "modern" / "Western"? Apologies for the less ideal choice of words, I mean no offense.
Thank you in advance for your invaluable input!
Warm regards,
Sarah Verbeke
-@Saar76
Hello Sarah,
I will try to help you understand how prescription drugs/medications work in Cape Verde as health care issues are not always as advanced as in developd countries. First, prescription (and also non-prescription) medications are considered legally controlled substances in Cape Verde. They are regulated by ERIS which is the sole state agency responsible. All medications (whether prescription on non-prescription) are imported by IMPROFAC which is the only entity authorzed to import and distribute medications in CV. All drugstores regardless of which island they are located on, must obtain medications from IMPROFAC, the sole distributor. Therefore, regardless of where you take your prescription, that pharmacy will have access to the same medications as every other pharmacy.
Foreigners can personally bring their prescription medications with them into Cape Verde if they are accompanied by the prescrption authorized by a foreign doctor. Medications for chronic conditions can be brough in even without a prescription. Since only IMPROFAC is authorized to import medications, you cannot have medications of any kind mailed to you as they will be intercepted by Customs and disposed of without any notice given to you.
Once you are here in Cape Verde your can use a prescription emitted by a FOREIGN doctor at any local pharmacy for up to six months. After 6 months you must obtain a replacement prescription from a local doctor. In both cases, you will certainly have a huge problem if the said medication (or a suitable non-brand equivalent) is not available in Cape Verde. However, in special circumstances, any pharmacy can makke a special request (e.g., life-saving) to IMPROFAC to import a medication that is not normally available locally.
There is a big exception to all of this - there are certain types of drugs that may be perfectly legal in some foreign countries BUT are illegal in Cape Verde. In such cases, you would not be allowed to enter the country with them (assuming they search your bags and find these items), they will not be available via the local pharmacies. nor can they be ispecially mported by IMPROFAC.
In Cape Verde, we are quite behind the times when it comes to the healthcare sector. There is a very simple way to get to the bottom of all this in your specific case. Send me a PRIVATE message and let me know what is the specific medication you are referring to. I will go directly to IMPROFAC which is located just up the street from me and I will find out if it (or an equivalent substitute) is available here or whether they can legally import it on your behalf if it is not.
By the way, I believe the island you are going to be visiting is spelled SANTO ANTAO. You should really get the spelling correct as it will be difficult to obtain island-specific information via web seaches, CV government websites, etc (even though such reources are few).
Best regards,
Angelo
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