18th May 5 a.m.
So my strategy today will be to phone the Cipla Distributor first and set up a meeting. I am thinking that he will know a doctor or doctors who are familiar with Hepatitis C and prescribing Sofosburvir. Now, because I already have my script I will focus on getting contact details and other information to post for people who want to come here themselves. Assuming the Cipla guy gives me the names of one or two Doctors I will go and see at least one and speak to him (or her) about putting contact details up. What the cost would be for an appointment/consultation and writing the prescription.

Also I will need to know what kind of information people would be required to bring to meet the doctor’s diagnosis requirements; because we will not want to have to go through scans and pathology etc... here.

Then I will go through the same process with the Mylan guy. I want to have a list of at least a few doctor’s contact details by the end of the day, as well as costs.

And, of course, I want to have my tablets!

(And I hope, hope, hope today!)

11 a.m.
Spoke to the Mylan and Cipla distributors this morning.... Ouch: communicating on the phone is very difficult. Of course it is not their fault. They can speak English but I can not speak Hindi. Still it is frustrating. I want to meet them face to face but they do not understand my Australian accented English and I do not understand their Hindi/Tamil accented English... and the phone connections are not particuarly clear. Sigh. 5 p.m.
Okay D. Day is D Done.

Here is how it works. There are several options.

Option 1. Buy Gilead branded Sovaldi, this is the most expensive option but a lot of people will feel some comfort in using the branded product. Sovaldi is the brand that Gilead sell in the US and various other first world countries.

Sovaldi will cost 19,800rps per bottle of 28 tablets. Branded Heplovir (Ribavirin) @ 230rps per bottle.

However, I am informed that there may be issues in some countries about bringing in the branded Sovaldi. I get the impression that GILEAD are not too keen on people taking Sovaldi out of India, particuarly into the first world countries.

To purchase Sovaldi in India you will need an Indian doctor to prescribe it for you. You should bring along all relevant recent reports related to your Hep C. With the photocopy of your prescription you will also need to supply a photocopy of your passport and one other form of ID.

To purchase a generic brand such as Myhep you do not need a prescription to buy it here however that may change. But anyway, in most cases, you will need a prescription to bring it into your country of origin. You need to find out your country’s laws but that is the case in Australia.

The cost of Myhep, which is exactly the same chemistry as Sovaldi, is 15,000rps per bottle of 28. In the case of Myhep they also throw in for free a generic Ribavirin.

So if you are doing a three month course the difference is a bit under 20,000rps (AUS$400).

Regarding doctors for the “bringing it home” prescription:

Any doctor in India can prescribe Sofobuvir generics so you don’t need to go down the path I followed by seeing a specialist and forking out quite a bit more money. Seeing a normal doctor for a single consult should not cost you more than $10, but I would still bring a few test results along. Let’s face it we’ve all seen all the specialists and done all the scans and tests and stuff. We just need the medication.

Bringing test results along might become more important as there are whispers about people coming over here and buying bulk Sofosbuvir generics and smuggling them home to sell for a profit. I guess so many people watched the Dallas Buyers’ Club it had to happen.

Anyway there is some chat about people having to prove that they actually have Hep C before they can get a prescription. It is not the case now but that could change, so bring some paperwork.

Anyway I do not have my medication yet! There were mix ups in telephone communications, my accent versus their accent and it ended up that I did not have a face to face until late this afternoon. But it is now all clear and the order is placed. I haved been told to expect delivery either later this afternoon or in the morning tomorrow.

At this stage I am going to go with the Sovaldi purely because that is what is written on my prescription and I do not want any hassles at Customs. If there is any issues about me taking a three month supply of Sovaldi out of the country then I will switch to Myhep and get another prescription.

I will let you know how it unfolds.

p.s. It’s now 8.30 p.m. and I have not got the meds. Tomorrow then.

This entry was originally published on My Hep C Diary. Reprinted with permission.