Medication Management in Medical Travel: What Providers and Patients Need to Know

Every country has their own particular regulations regarding which medications (especially controlled substances) can be brought into the country and what, if any, restrictions they may have (a controlled substance is generally a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession or use is regulated by a government and whose general availability is restricted . A medication that is considered over the counter in the patient’s country of residence could require a prescription in another country or may even be considered a controlled substance. In an extreme case that happened in October of 2017, a British woman was arrested in Egypt and sentenced to 3 years in prison for bringing pain killers (Tramadol) into the country for her husband who suffers from back pain. While Tramadol is widely prescribed in Britain, Egypt, as well as many other countries, has strict rules on any drugs containing opioid analgesics, such as Tramadol and codeine. Even passengers passing in transit through a country that prohibits certain medications or controlled substances could face legal problems or even jail time if the continuing flight is delayed or cancelled and the patient is forced to enter the country. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), an independent monitoring body for the implementation of the United Nations international drug control conventions, provides the following general guidelines for travelers:

Healthcare providers should be aware of the regulations and medication restrictions in their own country and provide patients with guidance or links to embassies or authoritative sources such as the International Narcotics Control Board to ensure traveling patients do not have any problems entering the country.