Buying medicines in the UK to send abroad

Buying cancer medicines

Sending medicines abroad depends on the type of medicine and where you want to send it. You can buy and export some medicines but not others. Unfortunately, you are unlikely to be able to buy and send cancer medicines abroad.

Regulations in the UK and other countries

In the UK, there are strict controls on which medicines you can buy. This is to make sure people take them safely and for the right medical conditions. You might find that UK regulations won’t allow you to buy the type of medicine you want to send.

If you can buy the medicine, you might need an export license. You can look at the:

• Home Office

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

They regulate medicines going in and out of the UK.

You can’t get a license to send controlled drugs by post. Controlled drugs include strong painkillers such as morphine.

Most countries have restrictions on medicines you can send or take in. The restrictions vary a lot between countries. Check with the country’s Embassy or High Commission.

Visit the Home Office website

Visit the MHRA website

Types of medicines

Whether you will be able to buy the medicine you want to send will depend on its type. In the UK, there are 3 types of medicines.

Sending medicines by post

Postal services have restrictions about what medicines you can send. It is best to check with the service before you post anything.

You can’t send any controlled drugs by post. Controlled drugs include strong painkillers such as morphine.

The Royal Mail recommends that you send medicines in special tamper proof packaging. The senders name and address need to be on the package.

Find more information about posting restrictions on the Royal Mail website. Or call their customer service number on 08457 740 740.

Visit the Royal Mail website

Contacting drug companies

Companies that make medicines don’t sell them to individual people. But it may be worth contacting the company that makes the medicine you want to send abroad.

They might have an office in the country where you want to send the medicine. They might also be able to help you get hold of the medicine there. A doctor or pharmacist will be able to tell you which company makes the drug.