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Medical Video: Don't Smoke Weed in Bali, Indonesia
Sometimes, to treat a certain condition, we need a very specific type or brand of drug. But not all drugs are available in Indonesia. And even if there is, sometimes the purchase price of drugs from abroad is still far cheaper than in the nearest pharmacy. Some drugs that require a doctor's prescription in Indonesia also turn out to be sold freely in other countries, so you don't have to bother going back and forth to the doctor to renew your prescription.
Not only online shopping sites, but online pharmacies such as evermeds.com, asiapharm.net, unitedpharmacies-uk.md, or brandmedicines.com are favorite destinations for many people to get quick access to the drugs they need.
Can you buy drugs from abroad for your own use?
Based on BPOM Head Regulation No. 27 Article 2 and 3 of 2013 concerning Supervision of Drug and Food Entry into the Indonesian Territory, there are a number of conditions that must be met by imported medicinal and food products in order to qualify for entry into Indonesia. BPOM, fulfills the provisions of legislation in the field of import, and obtains the approval of the Head of BPOM in the form of Import Certificate (SKI).
This regulation was announced because most drugs from other countries available for purchase by individuals often do not meet the requirements or have not been approved by BPOM to be circulated and used widely in Indonesia. For example, many European Union, Asian and Latin American countries allow the sale of cough medicines containing dextromethorphan, but dextromethorphan is a morphine class drug categorized as narcotics in Indonesia. So sending these drugs into the country is tantamount to acts of drug smuggling, even in small amounts for personal use.
However, the Certificate of Import (SKI) from the Head of BPOM is limited to state agencies and / or private companies that have licenses to distribute imported products. Therefore, illegal for individuals to import drugs (medical drugs, strong drugs, herbal medicines, health supplements) to Indonesia through commercial shopping sites or online pharmacies for their own use if they do not have EDAR PERMIT on behalf of the Consignee / Recipient of Goods via Shipping Services (Post / PJT)
All activities relating to the control of traffic of goods entering or leaving the territory of Indonesia are regulated by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, including food and medicine. Thus, if you are not able to show any official certification from BPOM or related agencies, you can be subject to administrative sanctions in the form of written warnings, or your imported drugs will be detained and / or destroyed. In addition to administrative sanctions, you can also be subject to criminal sanctions. Regarding sanctions for violations of drug and food imports are regulated in Article 24 of the Regulation of the Head of the Republic of Indonesia Drug and Food Supervisory Agency Number 27 of 2013.
The provisions of these restrictions and restrictions also include the import of drugs represented, for example when the goods are shipped using the Post (EMS / USPS) or other shipping services (DHL, TNT, FedEx, UPS, Aramex etc.), or buy drugs abroad on behalf relatives / friends who live in the country to then be sent to your home in Indonesia.
What if you buy drugs from abroad when you are traveling, then taken back to Indonesia?
Provisions on restrictions and restrictions on actual importation of imported goods also include examples of cases where you bring your own drug purchased overseas. This is needed to provide protection to the wider community from hazards caused by abuse, improper use, and / or those that do not meet the requirements for quality, benefits, and security of imported goods.
However, even though the practice of buying drugs from abroad is technically an illegal act that can plunge you into legal channels, the Indonesian Ministry of Trade issues a dispensation in the form of Minister of Industry and Trade Decree No. 314 / Kp / VIII / 1974, which allows consumers to import legal drugs by sea / air for personal use if they can be proven by prescription.
When situations and conditions require you to buy drugs from abroad and bring them back to Indonesia, you must submit copy doctor's certificate and / or official prescription (remember: not included bill purchase) attaching the patient's clear name, dosage, frequency of dosage, and the correct name of the drug when examining CIQ (Customs and Excise, Immigration, Quarantine Hall) at the arrival terminal. If not, the drug will be destroyed, because customs officials cannot know the benefits of these drugs without evidence of a doctor's prescription.
However, general drug formulations (for example generic multivitamin supplements or drugs that are also sold in Indonesia but in different versions / variants) usually will not be so problematic as long as they can be easily identified by airport officials and adjusted to the needs stated by the traveler own.
