Healthcare prescriptions

Jerry Straka wrote:

what do i need to refill prescriptions?  do i need to see a doctor there to get prescriptions?

Dear Jerry in the U.S.A.,

Welcome to the Ecuador forums of Expat.com ...

Various meds that require prescriptions in the States are sold over the counter in Ecuador with no prescription needed.

Note that the name of the medicine may be different in Ecuador.  You may wish to check the name at webmd.com or another site.

Mood-altering or mind-bending meds classified as estupefacientes or psicotrópicos may require a prescription from a specialist doctor in Ecuador.  Once you know the name of the medicine, most farmacias will be able to tell you whether a receta especial authorized by a specialist is required.  These recetas are only good for three days, so in the case of hard-to-find meds such as Lorazepam, you may need to search for a pharmacy ahead of time.  With Lorazepam, the Fybeca chain of pharmacies may have it in stock in a few of their many locations, or can deliver it to you in exchange for payment and a receta.

cccmedia in Quito

Jerry Straka wrote:

how long a wait before an appointment to see a doctor for a "yearly"?

The wait for an appointment can be just a few minutes for cash patients .. or, in the case of a specialist assigned by the government's IESS program, can be months.

Factors that may cause variations in wait times include (1) whether you are insured or paying out of pocket, (2) the terms and ability of your insurer, (3) the definition and extensiveness of what you called a "yearly" and (4) implications/delays related to The Situation.

cccmedia in Quito

Jerry Straka wrote:

should i have insurance before i arrive, or can i purchase it easier upon arrival?

Once you have your government-issued cédula ID, you can apply for the inexpensive IESS insurance.  This normally can be done only in-country.

Meantime, depending on your personal timetable and the availability of government services, you can either buy travel insurance or in-country non-government insurance;  the rate will depend on pre-existing conditions, age, options offered by the insurance company and perhaps other factors.

It may take months to get the cédula, which requires a visa (not merely a tourist stamp), and additional months for any policy to fully kick in due to waiting periods.

cccmedia in Quito

Depends on your prescription.  But my prescriptions (US) I don't need prescriptions for here. I just go to the pharmacy and buy them. It's easier to get dr appointments here. For example, as to cost, a dermatologist here cost what my US copay is (about $40).

thanks to all!

great info.  great help.  just 15 days from departure here in smoky montana, and any little tidbit of wisdom and knowledge is much appreciated before my aug. 11th arrival in cuenca.

hope to meet many of you.

The most important aspect when

choosing a place to live on the

Pacific Coast of Ecuador?

YouTuber/Expat Don Shader is making

no bones about it -- he's bored and

dissatisfied living in Manta on the

Pacific Coast (population about 217,000).

On a Q-and-A video, viewers Tim and Tracie

asked Don what features are most

important to him when considering

another city or town to live in.

Don didn't hesitate.

"Well, of course, number one is having

access to health care," he answered.

"Don't go to a little town that doesn't have

a hospital.  I mean, there's several towns

that are close to Manta that are great

places to live, with beautiful beaches

to go hang out on.  But man, I gotta tell you,

if you have a heart attack, you gotta get

to Manta, you gotta get to a hospital."

At YouTube.com...

   don shader tim and tracies

     questions and my answers

@cccmedia what about prescription asthma inhalers like Breo, are they available OTC if you know?

Although I've made a lot of medicine purchases

in Ecuador, I have been spared the need to buy

prescription inhalers such as Breo.

Are they available here OTC?

(a) I couldn't tell you.

(b)  To paraphrase the Former Guy in Helsinki,

Finland, "I don't see why they wouldn't be."

Go to the biggest or best hospital in town --

here in Quito that's Hospital Metropolitano --

and ask for the product at the main reception

desk or at the large pharmacies on the

hospital grounds.

cccmedia in Quito

@cccmedia

No Breo in the catalog of Fybeca, but asking at a hospital pharmacy is not a bad idea.

https://www.fybeca.com/

@N.Barley  thanks