Foreign hospital sends Rx to US patients after visit
Is it allowed that a foreign hospital where a US patient visited sends Rx to the patient after he or she comes back to the US?
If so, what are the conditions and regulations related to these activities?
If so, what are the conditions and regulations related to these activities?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Cherie Bright on -
Only a US doctor can prescribe prescription medicine in the US. The same is true overseas. Even if you have a written prescription from a US doctor you can't fill it outside the US. Mailing filled prescriptions is different and the rules are different for various drugs and also vary by where its being mailed from and where is being mailed to. It is done in some situations between certain countries but deepending on the drug you can run into some real problems with customs even where it is hand carried. Its not a problem with all drugs but applies to some across the counter drugs as well. I no of one situation where a flight attendant had a allergy medication when he arrived in Japan which was not legal in Japan. There is a lot of cross border carrying and shipment of medication but it is controled even when shipped between licensed pharmacies. Most drugs move between several countries before arriving in the US. Its very interesting but also extremely complicated. Its best to assume that it can't be shipped because unless the pharmacy is in the business of international distribution they are unlikely to know what can or can not be mailed to another country without violating laws. The same is true of physicians.
Although I'm not a doctor I had the opportunity of socializing with a pharmacist from New Zealand who managed an import export company. An accountant friend of mine was the CPA for the company in charge of tracking the financials for the imprt/export company.
The pharmacist said that most of drugs the handled were manufatured in various parts of ASIA and they could export them to New Zealand. New Zealand could only export to Vanuatu. From there they were shipped to a pharmaceutical company in Canada. The Canadian pharmaceuticle company then were exported to the United States. It required a minimum of four international shipments through licensed drug exporters to reach the US. Depending on where the drug was manufactured it sometimes added additional steps.
Anyway unless you are dealing with someone that is a specialist its safest to assume it can't be done. It may be legal to mail the drug from the country but it may be illegal to be received in the other country, especially the US. Also the law of every country the shipment goes through will apply as well. The routing of the shipment also has custom controls at every border the drug crosses.
Cherie
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Permalink Reply by Medical Tourism City on -
That is not an easy answer. See article http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-10-06-canada-drugs-usat_x.htm
Some states do it even though it is against Federal Law. But enforcement is not consistent.
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Permalink Reply by Dr.Ayyappan on -
As a practicing cosmetic surgeon,i can share my experience in treating Us patients.My prescription is valid in India.Its status in US is invalid.Sometimes my patients buy the prescription drug for a month and carry it with them.I do not know the legality of this process.
Dr.Ayyappan
www.plasticsurgeryindia.net
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Permalink Reply by Manan Kaji on -
Sir,
What is you advice on post treatment or post surgery medication that needs to be given to patient who go back to their home country after treatment?
Should they be suggested medicines available in India or their similar counter parts in US?
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Permalink Reply by Dr.Ayyappan on
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i select my patients in a way that they do not need prolonged medications.In case your patient needs prolonged medications .It is always better to have a local surgeon/physician in the loop.The patients are the best persons to suggest the local doctor.then we must communicate with the local doctor and he should feel comfortable with the care given.
practically it is better to give the medicines after verifying to the patient directly,but avoid giving longterm medications .
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Permalink Reply by Faisal A. Sami, M.D. on -
Dr.Ayyappan
I think you are following the appropriate protocol in this regard. It begins with selecting the right patients and keeping the patient's home physician in the loop.
Faisal
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