Whenever you travel abroad, it’s a good idea to carry a proper first-aid kit and any medication you’re likely to need. In some cases, however, this is more complicated than it might sound. Especially if you rely on certain prescription medicines, regulations both in the UK and abroad make it important to consider various issues.
Getting enough to last while you’re away
If you know how long you’ll be away for, make sure you have enough of your usual prescription medicines to get you through your trip. If you have regular prescription pain medication, try and take an additional spare supply just in case of any accidents or loss of luggage. If you haven’t got enough to last you, you may need to obtain a repeat prescription from your doctor.
NHS prescriptions
An NHS doctor can prescribe up to three months’ supply of a drug, if a number of conditions are met. These include general stable health, a positive reaction to the drug and belief that the drug will not be misused. All NHS doctors have the right to refuse to write a prescription if they don’t believe it’s in the patient’s best interests.
If you’re going to be away for more than three months, you may wish to register with a doctor in your destination country or investigate whether you can buy your medication from a pharmacy when abroad. Some NHS doctors may write a longer private prescription. However, there’s no obligation for them to do this, and you’ll have to pay full price for these medicines.
Controlled drugs
Some medicines include “controlled drugs”, which are drugs controlled through the Misuse of Drugs legislation. An individual may be given only a limited supply of these drugs at one time. The maximum allowance is usually equivalent to a 15-day supply, meaning that you’ll receive enough for a two-week holiday, but no more. If you need more than a 15-day allowance, you must write to the Home Office for official permission. Examples of this type of drug include morphine, benzodiazepine and methadone. If you’re not sure of the status of your prescription, ask your doctor.
Is your medication legal in your destination country?
Some drugs prescribed in the UK are not legal for general use in other countries. It’s always a good idea to check that your prescription is legal in your destination country and any countries you’ll be passing through. Even if a drug is legal, there may be restrictions on how much you may carry with you. This also applies to over-the-counter medication, so check the status of your whole first aid kit before you travel.
How to pack medicines
It’s best to carry medicines in your hand luggage, in case the luggage you check through is lost or routed to the wrong destination. However, it’s a good idea to include a spare supply in your hold luggage.
You should always leave medicines in their original packaging so that officials can confirm what they are. If you carry prescription medicines, take the original prescriptions with you. Ideally, also ask your doctor for a letter explaining that you require the medicines, and pack that too.
If your medication needs to be kept at a certain temperature, you may have to carry it in a cooler bag or insulated pouch. Ask your pharmacist if you’re unsure.
You’ll need special permission from your airline or the airport to carry certain types of medical equipment, such as hypodermic syringes or cooling gel pads, through airport security checks. You’ll also need a letter from your doctor, specifying that you need these items due to a particular medical condition. Similarly, if you need to carry liquid medicines in your hand luggage, you should carry a doctor’s letter and let your airline know.
Bringing medicines back into the UK
Some medicines that are available abroad aren’t legal back in the UK. You can try to check their status when you purchase or are given them, but if you’re in any doubt, declare the medication at customs.