Foreign tourists actively purchase medicines in Turkey. Many travelers budget for medications and visit pharmacies for advantageous deals. The reasons include lower prices than in other countries, and strict quality control in Turkey.
Typical purchases from Turkey include vitamins, supplements, painkillers, vascular disease medications, gastrointestinal treatments, statins, anti-inflammatory drugs, antipyretics, digestive enzymes, and various ointments. Turkey offers a wide selection, including new drugs not available in some CIS countries.
In Turkish pharmacies, especially in resort areas, staff often speak Russian and English, making communication easier. Here are some tips for a convenient purchase experience:
Pharmacy Visit and Medication Purchase in Turkey:
- Pharmacy Hours and Duty Pharmacies: Regular pharmacies (ECZANE) are usually open Monday to Saturday from around 8.30-9.00 to 19.00-20.00. On Sundays and public holidays, only duty pharmacies are open. You can find the nearest duty pharmacy's address on any pharmacy's door.
- Prescriptions: Bring any prescriptions you have for accuracy in medication selection and to help pharmacists provide necessary information.
- Active Ingredient Knowledge: Knowing the active ingredient is crucial, as medicines may have different names but the same active ingredient. You can find this information online or bring a package with the medicine name, and the pharmacist can find a Turkish equivalent.
- Prescription Requirements: In Turkey, medicines requiring a prescription can't be purchased, even with a foreign doctor's prescription. Only a prescription from a Turkish doctor is valid. Over-the-counter drugs are marked with "normal Reçete".
- Authenticity and Safety: To avoid counterfeit medicines, purchase only from official pharmacies. Turkish pharmacists typically offer professional consultation and guarantee the quality of their products.
- Legal Penalties for Counterfeiting: Turkish laws impose severe penalties for drug counterfeiting, with potential imprisonment up to 50 years.
- Prices and Discounts: Medicine prices can vary, and they are often not fixed. You can ask the pharmacist for the cost of specific medicines. While prices for medicines are uniform across all Turkish pharmacies due to limited trade markups, prices for supplements and vitamins can vary. In non-touristic areas, these may be cheaper.
Purchasing medicines in Turkey can be a beneficial and straightforward experience with proper preparation and knowledge of the local pharmacy system.
The pharmaceutical system in Turkey strikes a balance between quality control and entrepreneurship in ensuring the safety of medicines. This system includes stringent rules and standards for pharmacies to maintain uniform service levels and control over medication quality, preventing potential abuses or unethical drug trading practices. However, this approach has both positives and negatives.
State monopoly in the pharmaceutical market can ensure greater safety and quality control, protecting consumer interests. Yet, this could also potentially reduce competition and innovation in the sector. The limitation of allowing only one pharmacy per pharmacist might restrict entrepreneurial opportunities for those wishing to expand their business.
Finding a balance between quality control, medicine availability, and supporting entrepreneurship in the pharmaceutical industry is crucial. This balance is essential to ensure both the safety and accessibility of medications for the public and the healthy growth of the pharmaceutical sector.
Stay healthy!
