Pharmacy

Fascino

Fascino is one of Thailand's largest pharmacy chains and a familiar green-signed fixture across Pattaya — the practical, well-stocked middle ground between the tiny independent chemists and the pricier tourist-strip pharmacies near the beach bars. The company has been going for around four decades and, by its own account, now runs more branches nationwide than any other Thai pharmacy chain. In Pattaya you'll find several outlets, including a large, long-established store on North Pattaya Road (across from Lotus's) that locals rate as one of the best-stocked pharmacies in town, plus this central branch on Pattaya Klang (Central Pattaya Road) and others around the city and in malls. What makes Fascino useful to visitors and expats is range and price: shelves cover prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antibiotics and common travel remedies, painkillers, stomach and cold treatments, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, first-aid supplies, vitamins and supplements, plus skincare, cosmetics and basic medical equipment like blood-pressure monitors and supports. Prices are generally lower than the mini-pharmacies near the beach, and qualified pharmacists are on hand — English varies by branch and staff member, so it helps to bring the generic (not just the brand) name of any medicine you need, or a photo of the packet. Thailand still allows many medicines to be bought over the counter that would need a prescription back home, though rules are tightening and controlled drugs require one; the pharmacist will advise. Hours are typically around 8am to 10pm, varying by branch.