Pharmacies in Seminyak – there are loads of them

If you’re staying in the Seminyak area or, for that matter, any other area in Bali and you are worried that there will not be any pharmacies nearby, then don’t be stressed if there is one thing Bali is not short of: that’s pharmacies.

In fact, in the Seminyak, Legian, Berawa and Canggu areas, there are pharmacies like the one in the video everywhere. The main pharmacy chain is Guardian, and they have their flagship store in Seminyak. So, it’s more than likely if you run out of suntan cream, band-aids, mosquito repellent, shaving cream, tampons, vitamins or even hair care products, you will find them at the Pharmacy. There are other smaller shops like Circle K or Indomaret where you can get smaller items, but you will find them at your local Guardian for the main drugs, such as antibiotics and headache tablets. A curious point to note in Indonesia is that you do not need a prescription for most drugs. You can basically buy them over the counter, which you cannot do back home in Australia.

So be careful not to prescribe or self-medicate yourself. Always use caution. Another really interesting point to note is the number of staff at the pharmacy. There are 2 staff for every customer.  That’s the beauty of Bali and the customer service you get there. One other interesting point to note is that they do have a huge vitamins area as well as lots of medicine for coughs and colds so if you do find yourself feeling a little bit under the weather on holiday you can always find those creature comfort soothers and throat lozenges to get you through the day as there is nothing worse than feeling sick on holiday.

If you’re not staying in Seminyak and are in most other parts of Bali, there are Guardian and local pharmacies in most tourist areas. You really don’t have to go far to find one. A point to note is that they will always try to sell you the more expensive brand as you are a foreign tourist with money, but you should know that they do have generic brands that are a lot cheaper and contain the exact ingredients. So if you are on a budget, go for the cheaper option as they also work. This is particularly true when it comes to Bali belly tablets that you might need. Go for the Indonesian brand, as it really works well.

You should also be aware that there are hawkers outside most pharmacies (and we did see one or two out in front of this particular Guardian) who will try to sell you Viagara and Cialis tablets. If you’re looking for these, simply walk inside the chemist and buy them over the counter, as you do not need any doctor’s prescription. Avoid any pharmaceutical drug sold to you on the street. If you don’t find what you’re looking for at these chemists, then most large supermarkets like Pepito or Bintang Supermarket have many products to get you through the holiday.