Yesterday I wrote about how inexpensive it is to buy medications in Peru and how you don’t need a prescription for most drugs (apart from narcotics and amphetamines). This system made it easier and more affordable for us to care for my dad with Alzheimer’s while we lived in Lima.
Today I’m going to share a few tips on how to purchase medicines at a Lima pharmacy. These tips are aimed at people who are not Peruvian, especially those whose first language is English.
You know, I’m starting to get more emails from Americans wanting to know how we cared for my father in Peru and wondering if such a move is right for them. Some people who query me have never been to Latin America and, more critically, don’t speak Spanish. They want to know if it’s “necessary” to learn the language in order to get good care there for their loved ones.
The bottom line is, yes, you must speak at least intermediate-level Spanish to be able to coordinate care south of the border. There is no way around that. You’ll need to communicate effectively with caregivers, doctors, and–here’s the point that I was coming to in this post–with pharmacists and people who work at pharmacies.
Peruvian society is very people-oriented and service-oriented, which means you must negotiate transactions face to face, not with a computer or automated check-out service.Continue Reading