How to travel with prescription medications in Indonesia

Aussies on prescriptions medications are at risk of arrest if they take their drugs into Indonesia, with local authorities revealing the information you must have to remain on your treatment plan while holidaying.

Australian travellers to Bali have been put on notice to pack written evidence of medical conditions if they intend to remain of their treatment plan while holidaying in Indonesia.

People suffering from ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression, chronic pain and even cancer have been told to bring receipts, prescription copies and medical explanations of doses if they want to bring an array of medications to the island.

“Possession of certain psychotropic substances by foreign nationals can be done as long as they are used only for treatment and it can be proven that the drugs were legally obtained,” said Mr Teddy Triatmojo, Ngurah Rai Airport (Bali) Customs spokesman.

Australian travellers to Bali have been put on notice to pack written evidence of medical conditions. Picture: AFP

Scores of medications that are routinely prescribed in Australia including painkillers, sleeping pills and ADHD medications are illegal in Indonesia – a nation infamous for its harsh drug laws.

Visitors are being sent a clear message that they must only carry the specific amount of medications required for the length of their stay in Indonesia.

“It (amount of medication) must be (for) no longer than two months and must be proven by a copy of the receipt and a letter of description (from) the doctor’s concerned,” Mr Triatmojo advised.

“The doctor’s certificate must clearly state the amount of the psychotropic use each day.”

The warnings come in the wake of the detainment of NSW man Michael Petersen who declared to customs that he had 87 dexamphetamine tablets to treat myasthenia gravis – a long-term neuromuscular disease that leads to varying degrees of skeletal muscle weakness.

Indonesian customs and police were suspicious of the amount of pills being brought into the country for a four-day trip and immediately detained Mr Petersen.

Scores of medications that are routinely prescribed in Australia are illegal in Indonesia. Picture: Supplied

This year customs at Bali’s international airport have seized 47 diazepam pills, 23 temazepam tablets and more than 200 dexamphetamine tablets from Australians entering Bali. Other medications to be confiscated from other foreign nationals include:

• A large variety of Benzodiazepines such as Valium, Clonazepam – which is used to treat seizures;

• Buprenorphine, which treats opiate addiction and chronic pain;

• Oxycodone for pain;

• Ritalin for ADHD;

• Lorazepam for anxiety and sleeping disorders.

It is recommended that travellers always keep medications, including vitamins, in the original packaging with a copy of the prescription and a letter from the prescribing doctor. These should be declared if required, and kept in hand luggage for ease of access.

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The Indonesian Embassy in Australia will, for a fee, provide a “certified letter of approved medicines” certificate.

However, the letter is not a guarantee of exemption from possible legal consequences of carrying illegal drugs.

A simple packing oversight has landed Mr Petersen, 37, in hot water and multiple nights at the Denpasar police station and an emergency trip to the hospital after he collapsed, instead of a four-day birthday celebration for his wife, Linda.