View Full Version : Buying vitamin supplements in Jakarta
I'm moving to jakarta in 2 months times. I had surgery 3 years ago that requires me to take a number of vitamin supplements (calcium, multi-vites, B12, Omega-3, iron), and I'm wondering how easy it is to find these in Jakarta.
Very easy indeed. You will find international brands of all of those supplements in mall drugstores. I would advise buying well-known proprietory brands (e.g. Redoxon, GNC). I'm sure there are reputable local brands that are just as good, but production standards are sometimes poorly enforced.
I don't know about Jakarta , but I think it is not too different from my city of 4 million people , 2.5 hours by car from Jakarta . I used to buy my vitamin supplements in Malaysia because there are not many options here , where I saw only about 3 brands of each supplement type (except for vit.C , many options but normally sweet , probably fewer for iron) . Vitamin/minerals supplement is the only thing I feel in need to buy outside Indonesia .
I don't know about Jakarta , but I think it is not too different from my city of 4 million people , 2.5 hours by car from Jakarta . I used to buy my vitamin supplements in Malaysia because there are not many options here , where I saw only about 3 brands of each supplement type (except for vit.C , many options but normally sweet , probably fewer for iron) . Vitamin/minerals supplement is the only thing I feel in need to buy outside Indonesia .
Yeap. I only take Blackmores and they don't sell it here. Have to buy the stocks whenever I'm back to Oz.
I'm moving to jakarta in 2 months times. I had surgery 3 years ago that requires me to take a number of vitamin supplements (calcium, multi-vites, B12, Omega-3, iron), and I'm wondering how easy it is to find these in Jakarta.
Like the others said, it's easy to find plenty of supplements-- along with lots and lots of 'herbal' and 'traditional' compounds. Stick to reputable vendors and name-brand products to ensure quality and effectiveness. The catch is the price-- most supplements are *crazy* expensive.
Where are you moving from? I suggest that you bring a decent-size stockpile from your local wholesaler. (If you're in the States, Costco or Sam's Club.) I take fiber and a multivitamin every day. I've been using the same Costco bottle for 11 months now and I've STILL got a long ways to go.
I have a friend coming from the States in the next few months and I'm planning on having her bring me another bottle-- it probably wouldn't be worth it to have them shipped to you, 'cause you'd have to deal with customs and postage, but it's definitely worth the savings if you can have someone bring them for you!
In addition, I have people bring me Costco bottles of childrens multivitamins when they visit. I donate them to my local orphanage for the same reason-- vitamins are just too expensive for the orphanages to buy, yet the children desperately need them.
We're coming from New Zealand. Think I'll come with an initial supply - at least for the first 6 months - so I've got time to check out what's available. I'd be interested in knowing what else may be useful to bring for the children at the orphanage.
waarmstrong
25-05-10, 16:10
Parents.
Parents.
Wkwkwkwkwk, waarmstrong. Considering the fact that Indo adoption law is all about politics (rather than the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of the orphaned, abused, and abandoned children) that's unlikely to happen anytime soon. Gotta love a country that would rather force children to live out their entire lives in an orphanage than place them with a loving, capable family that doesn't practice Islam, or hasn't been married for five years (domestic partnerships don't count!), or is a household comprised of a single parent or same-sex parents, or has been in Indonesia for less two years, or has adopted any children from anywhere else. Who do the adoption laws benefit, 'cause it's sure not the children...
/soapbox
Cazali, the orphanage I donate to is a tiny little hole-in-the-wall out near the airport. There are lots of organizations all over town and they all have different needs. Common ones include baby formula, children multivitamins, and adult multivitamins. Check out the site here (http://www.expat.or.id/info/givingback.html)and see if there's an organization that appeals to you. Most of them have wishlists on their websites, so you can use that as a shopping guide.
abdinegoro
27-09-10, 00:31
I always thought of supplements as... supplements. Something thats often get recommended along with medicines, add to costs with no real benefit. If you're cured, then the supplements has helped you, and if you're not, then you must have taken the wrong medication. So they say, but I refuse to believe. But for all you believers, knowing the ingredients for your favorite supplements might help, I'm sure you can find them here too in Indonesia under a different label. Guardian and Century has a stockpile of them, you can find those shops in almost (if not all) malls around Indonesia
you can buy them in supermarket,maybe they're available in carrefour..:music:
Try Wellness Pharmacy @ Central Park Jakarta Barat. They have plenty of vitamins and supplements.
Please call them for more information.
Contact number : 6287882263639
Carrine
hendry_ohe
06-02-12, 19:38
Blackmores is sold in Jakarta....
Yeap. I only take Blackmores and they don't sell it here. Have to buy the stocks whenever I'm back to Oz.
hendry_ohe
06-02-12, 19:41
I used to consume Centrum.....and it's pretty easy to find here.....
dunno, is that caused by customs, or else. but i also need vitamins, and salmon oil for parent that i also asked my friend to buy there outside:frusty:
werjin1029
06-02-12, 23:04
use the generic one to get cheaper price
:bored: we dont know wad the generic consist of, so weird for me
I am bumping this thread. I want to order some vitamin supplements off Amazon.... because supplements here in Jakarta are so-o-o-o expensive. Does anyone on here have an experience with Indonesian customs and vitamin supplements? Any problems?
Kelly
icantfindid
02-04-12, 23:00
Hi Kelly! You shouldn't have any problem with the customs if they are just regular vitamins/supplements, but there would be a VAT tax I believe, probably about 10% or so off the total value. What I would do is letting the seller know not to include the shipping cost there so you wont get taxed on that as well.
I'm getting tons of vitamins my way too, they are organic which is yet to be seen anywhere here, so I ordered them off a couple different sites that don't ship overseas. But since my friend is coming from the States in a couple weeks, I just had it shipped to him. Actually I don't think he'd mind bringing a couple more so if you rather skip the whole customs thing, just let me know, I wont care.. :)
Thanks for the offer. :) but it's OK, I am going to order some stuff through Amazon anyway.
I am just a little confused about what gets taxed coming into Indonesia and what doesn't.
I've had books sent through Amazon to me in Bekasi a few times and haven't paid any tax at all (to value of under $100).
So if there's vitamins and supplements in there too, does that make a difference?
K
Yeap. I only take Blackmores and they don't sell it here. Have to buy the stocks whenever I'm back to Oz.
http://www.kaskus.us/showthread.php?t=5053554 they selling Blackmores....:confused
orangspura
03-04-12, 22:25
I found a wonderful pharmacy with a prescription counter opposite the Grand Kemang Hotel. It's opposite Satay Senayan and is in the building on the left of the building housing the famous Kem Chicks supermarket. The traffic there is horrendous (go there during off peak hours?). It's huge and well-stocked with local and international brands. I'm very into vitamins (ie. always compare shops/pharmacies) which I currently buy in S'pore (havent moved to Jakarta yet) and I'd give it a thumbs up. I visited 3 other pharmacies including Guardian when I was in Jakarta last November. Sorry I can't remember the name but it looks new.
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