Mailing / FedEX medications from US to Bogota ???

Bill Turley says on Jun 6, 2008, 08:06:

Check out Colombian equavalents and generics

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Bill Turley says on Jun 6, 2008, 08:08:

I had to pay over $90 USD/ month for bp meds in the states. Here I pay less than $14,000COP for generics that have worked perfectly for 10 years

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 6, 2008, 08:52:

You need to check with the shipper. I think that most won't knowingly ship medicines. Officially, I think you need to at least provide the prescription and possibly a permit of some sort. I would imagine that it would also depend on the particular medication.

I went through helping to get an intravenous medication shipped to Colombia for a friend of my wife's family last year and they had to jump through a lot of hoops. There were all kinds of customs arrangements that had to be taken care.

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RUV says on Jun 6, 2008, 09:09:

I am with Bill. Go to a local pharmacy and show them you perscription. They should be able to give you a generic version. It may also depend on what drug you need.

Good Luck.

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Bill Turley says on Jun 6, 2008, 09:20:

I guess maybe it is a question of your state of mind. I came to Colombia to LIVE not visit so I tried to find Colombian solutions to my needs and desires. What I couldn't find I forgot at least for a time. Some things like Instant Mashed Potatoes, I asked family members to bring for me, same for books ( in English) and so on. Look inside yourself and see what is your long term goal. If you will be returning to the States import your meds

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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sloopskipper says on Jun 7, 2008, 16:30:

If you have a prescription plan in the U.S, Check http://www.aeropost.com/main.htm

I receive my meds here, in Panamá, and the also deliver in Bogotá (and Cartagena) , and probably other cities. Lot cheaper than Fed-Ex, and gives you a U.S. mailing address.

They fly your letters and packages from Miami to Bogotá.

They deliver to my apartment, here in Panama City (and they deal with customs here).

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lampltr says on Jun 7, 2008, 16:58:

twmcm, great question...was going to post the same. Great comments from everyone!! Myself personally, I need to import some natural cancer meds from the states for my wife. Definitely not a problem getting a doctors letter or anything we need from Colombia, however this is specially made and difficult to find anywhere else.
You are 100% correct Bill, we have done the same and has worked out great. Sloop, very useful info thanks...did save that web site...Do they charge extra for delivery like Fed X tries to scam everyone on there in Panama?

Cheers!!

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twmcm says on Jun 7, 2008, 18:48:

Update . . . I spoke with FedEX and they said talk to DIAN. DIAN says an "import clearance" is required for any medicine in any quantity.

I'm awaiting word on whether obtaining this clearance is a feasible option.

My US doc would ship the meds every three months, so maybe getting the clearance isn't a bad idea.

We;ll see . . .

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sloopskipper says on Jun 8, 2008, 02:04:

lampltr,

The weekly home delivery is included (and the Panamanian mail service does not deliver). I think I pay $15 per month and 8 oz. minimum (now) $2.87, end to end transit charge, per delivery. They have a box number for letters in Miami, and also an actual street address in Doral for packages, etc.

With letters, bills, and a couple magazines I think it costs $20-25 per month, and they bill my credit card.

Of course the fee just went up substantially because of fuel costs.

It works pretty well for me. Along with my Skpe-In telephone number I can live outside the country somewhat transparently. That telephone number has a 717 Pennsylvania area code and out-calls to my cell phone here in Panamá. That usually works well, and people have no clue they are talking to someone in another country.

Of course I can also make free computer-to-computer calls worldwide, and I have used with my wireless laptop in Colombia).

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sloopskipper says on Jun 8, 2008, 02:14:

It’s sorta funny. For the original prescription, from MedCo, I needed to complete a form, along with copies of my cedula, AND passport for AeroBox to deliver to customs.

The refill (with identical packaging) was delivered to my door, identified as “spare parts�.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 8, 2008, 10:12:

Here is a nice summary of services posted yesterday on panama-guide:

http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20080607092747245

Of course this is directed to the Panamanian market.

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CatGirl says on Jun 8, 2008, 17:55:

Twmcm: Is DIAN the acronym for Customs? If so, omit this comment-

Check with them on what is needed too - mailed via US mail the herbal equivalent of the only "legal" form of OTC hormones in the US to Bogota and there were no problems at all.

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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twmcm says on Jun 8, 2008, 18:54:

DIAN are the tax folks. The bean collectors & counters.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 10, 2008, 06:24:

sloopskipper says on Jun 8, 2008, 02:04: flag

"lampltr,

The weekly home delivery is included (and the Panamanian mail service does not deliver). I think I pay $15 per month and 8 oz. minimum (now) $2.87, end to end transit charge, per delivery. They have a box number for letters in Miami, and also an actual street address in Doral for packages, etc."

I just noticed that the charge for 8 oz. minimum is $2.25, not 2.87.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 10, 2008, 08:31:

Doc,

You mean the one of the young sailor?

As you can imagine that is a VERY old foto.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 11, 2008, 03:21:

That was in the Mediterranean, off the coast of the French/Spanish border, a few days after the Kennedy assassination.


U.S.S. William M. Wood, DDR-715 (Radar Picket Destroyer)

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tomtom33 says on Jun 11, 2008, 03:30:

I had prescription meds shipped to me in Cartagena from the US. Except I never got them. They were held in Bogota for 4 or 5 months before I could arrange to have them shipped back to the US. I consulted with attorneys and went through a lot of shit. Bottom line, you cannot ship any prescription meds to Colombia.

There are some alternatives, however. I did have a friend ship 30 pills in a blister pack, regular mail, no declaration. I got them in about 60 days. I had some meds shipped to a friend in the US who personally carried them with him into Colombia.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 11, 2008, 10:15:

Tom, were your meds shipped from the farmacia?

I wonder if a mailing service like AirBox would work as well as it does in Panamá. They deal with customs here.

There are the meds that Medco will not ship out of the country, even to Puerto Rico. Things as benign as mild tranquillizers.

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tomtom33 says on Jun 12, 2008, 04:34:

The meds were shipped by my sister. From what I understand, it makes no difference who ships the meds nor does it matter who does the shipping. If Aduana finds out that there are prescription drugs in the package, it will not be delivered, punto.

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dogfart says on Jun 12, 2008, 07:01:

TomTom33 wrote: " If Aduana finds out that there are prescription drugs in the package, it will not be delivered, punto". Is aduana Colombian customs?

What do you do in the US witt the customs form you have to declare at the post office then,... openly lie about it?

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tomtom33 says on Jun 12, 2008, 15:48:

Aduana is Colombian customs.

I don't follow your last question. I buy my drugs by prescription at a US pharmacy. They were openly declared when they were shipped. Aduana refused to deliver them.

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