Travelling with medicine
Before leaving home, you should check that your
medications are legal in the country you are visiting. You can do
this by contacting the
country's
embassy or high commission.
Since the National Health Act was amended in 1999,
it has been an offence to carry or post Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme (PBS) medicines overseas unless they are for your personal
use, or the use of someone travelling with you.
Only Australian residents living in Australia at
the time a PBS prescription is dispensed are entitled to receive PBS-subsidised
medication and there are restrictions on the amount of PBS medicine
that can be carried or sent overseas.
When planning to travel overseas with PBS medicine
it is important that you:
- talk to your doctor and discuss the medicine
you will need to take
- carry a letter from your doctor detailing
what the medicine is, how much you will be taking, and stating
that it is for your own personal use
- leave the medicine in its original packaging
so it is clearly labelled with your name and dosage
instructions.
If you intend to travel with large quantities of
medicine, including over-the-counter or private prescription
medications, you should ask your doctor, dentist or pharmacist to
provide you with a letter explaining why you need to carry such
quantities.
If you have to inject your medication it might be
preferable to carry your own needles and syringes but you should
check with the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting
to make sure this is acceptable. If you buy needles and syringes
while overseas ensure you buy packs that are sealed and sterile.
And, if you need to carry needles and syringes with you on the
plane, inform your airline before you travel and if necessary,
arrange a letter from your doctor explaining why you need to carry
them.
It is important to be aware that some items
purchased overseas may be packaged under a different brand name to
those available in Australia. Keep an eye on the strength and active
ingredients of similar-sounding medications overseas-they can vary.
More information on travelling with medicines is
available from the
Medicare Australia or by phoning the
Travelling with PBS medicine enquiry line: 1800 500 147.
Avoid trouble with illegal drugs overseas
Every year Australians are arrested overseas on
drugs charges. Don’t be fooled into thinking it is worth risking
carrying or taking illegal drugs overseas. Australians do get caught
and the strict penalties in place, including the death penalty, do
apply to foreigners.
To minimise your chances of getting into trouble
with drugs overseas:
- obey the law — don’t purchase, take or travel
with illegal drugs
- don’t leave your bags unattended in public
areas
- don’t leave your bags in the care of a
stranger
- never carry anything into or out of another
country for someone else
- ensure your medicines are not considered
illegal drugs overseas by contacting the nearest embassy of the
country you are visiting before departing
- lock your luggage as a sensible precaution
against tampering or theft. Information on luggage safety is
available from the
Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
The United States has specific requirements regarding locks used
on airline baggage. Visit the US
Department
of Homeland Security for further
details.
