Finding a pharmacy abroad when you do not speak the language
Use the generic ingredient, strength and original packaging to explain what you need. A familiar brand name or convincing box is not enough to confirm the right medicine.
AI illustration: A traveller shows an original medicine box and a generic-name note to a pharmacist at a licensed pharmacy counter. Fictional scene, not an actual location, person or service.
Bring an identification sheet, not a shopping list
Before travel, ask your clinician or pharmacist for the generic ingredient, strength, formulation and current instructions for each medicine. Keep the prescription and original labelled packaging. A photo can support the conversation but should not be the only record, especially if the label is blurry or uses only an Indian brand name.
Find a legitimate route to care
CDC advises buying from licensed pharmacies and asking for a receipt if you must obtain medicine abroad. Do not buy from an open market or a stranger who offers an unlabelled substitute. Your insurer’s assistance service, an established clinic or a hospital can help identify local care; check the actual pharmacy and its credentials rather than trusting an attractive map listing.
Make the comparison explicit
Show the original pack and ask the pharmacist to check the active ingredient, strength, formulation and intended use. CDC notes that generic and trade names and medicine strengths can differ between countries. Do not assume two similar-looking boxes are interchangeable. If the medicine cannot be safely identified, ask for a clinician’s review instead of choosing by colour or price.
Use translation for the conversation, not a dose decision
Write short statements, one at a time, and ask the pharmacist to repeat the proposed medicine and instructions in a form you can understand. A translated label or automatic camera translation can be wrong. If the strength or instructions remain unclear, do not take a guessed dose. A local prescription or consultation may be needed under local rules.
Check the pack, but know its limits
Retain the receipt and original packaging. CDC warns that counterfeit medicines may look identical to genuine products; good printing does not prove authenticity. A wrong ingredient, damaged pack, conflicting instructions or unexplained substitution is a reason to stop and seek qualified help. For an urgent illness, seek medical care rather than spending hours comparing shops.
Questions before you travel
Can I ask for my Indian brand?
You can show it, but ask the pharmacist to match the generic ingredient, strength and formulation.
Does sealed packaging prove a medicine is genuine?
No. CDC says counterfeit medicines can look identical to genuine ones.
Can a translation app choose a substitute?
No. A qualified pharmacist or clinician must check the proposed medicine and instructions.
A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.
Planning your next trip?
We'll handle insurance, hotels, airport assistance and the itinerary — the same way we do it for every trip.