How are chronic pain patients treated in the Phils?

[PHP87]

I am a chronic pain patient in my late 50's that lives in the US and after many years on numerous prescribed opiates, my pain management doc put me on Methadone.

I am scripted 10mg X 210 tablets per month, along with Neurontin and Valium for back spasms.

I also spent 10 years at a MM clinic from 1993-2003, but left due to all the clinic BS and politics even though I had plenty of take-home doses. Long story, but I won't get into here as it isn't relevant.

I plan to retire to the Phils in a few years, likely the Visayas/Cebu.

How are chronic pain patients treated there? I know many Expats are former military and have TriCare, but I'm not former military and would be paying out of pocket for medical. I will likely pay for Philcare as well.

I also plan to get married there eventually, so my Visa issues will also be resolved eventually, but what would be the best and legal way to treat chronic pain in the RP?

Not asking for sources or anything like that, just wondering what people with chronic pain do in the Phils legally for pain relief and what is prescribed to them and how many hoops must one jump thru, especially if they are there on a 59 - day Visa?

Thanks.

 

[poledriver]

old article - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11798224 (2001)

http://www.pcp.org.ph/images/storie...nd_treatment_of_chronic_pain_in_the_Phils.pdf (2011)

http://www.painedu.org/spotlight.asp?spotlightNumber=25

Dont know if any of that helps.

Can you go over there for a few short trips before you plan to retire there? And find out if you are allowed to take your medication with you? First hand experience and asking when there would be great if possible I would imagine.

 

[PHP87]

Thanks for the links. I've been doing some research and it looks like the Phils are a very bad place to be if you need pain meds as even many Cancer patients die in pain.

This really sucks as it throws a major wrench into my retirement plans.