Skip to main content

Personal Importation of Medicine

Meaning

Personal Importation of Medicine is the practice whereby an individual physically brings a drug, pharmaceutical, or therapeutic compound into a country for their own exclusive personal use, having typically acquired it from a foreign pharmacy or distributor. This practice is strictly governed by the specific national regulatory authority guidelines, which impose stringent limitations on the maximum quantity, the type of medication allowed, and the non-negotiable requirement for a valid, verifiable prescription. Clinically, this is a complex area involving a delicate balance between patient access to non-locally available treatments and the government’s mandate to ensure drug safety and quality.