Restrictions on import of drugs for personal use within the European single market.
BACKGROUND
The European Union (EU) has harmonized legislation on pharmaceutical products to implement the single market in this field. European consumers are offered with high quality and safe products that have been brought onto the market through harmonized procedures. The aim of the study was to find out if there still were legislative restrictions to purchasing prescription only medicines (POMs) for personal use from another EU member state.


METHODS
The medicines authorities in the EU were inquired about the possibilities of a citizen to obtain POMs for personal use from another EU country. The method used was a questionnaire covering both the delivery of foreign prescriptions and import of prescription-only medicines. The questionnaire was mailed, e-mailed or faxed to the national medicines authorities.


RESULTS
An answer was obtained from 11 of the 15 member states. The results showed that the delivery of foreign prescriptions was regulated only in the Nordic countries. All the countries reported prohibitions on delivering prescriptions for drugs that act on the central nervous system and prescriptions that were suspicious. The personal import of drugs was restricted as to the amounts and reimbursement policy.


CONCLUSIONS
The import of drugs for personal use is not yet comparable to other consumables in the EU. The prevailing restrictions contravene the community legislation and this problem has not yet been solved. It is probable that problems will arise in the near future when information technology is likely to be used increasingly in the delivery of drugs.
Mäkinen
Mia M
MM
University of Turku, Public Health Department, Turku, Finland. mia.makinen@fimnet.fi
Rautava
Päivi T
PT
Forsström
Jari J
JJ
D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D020407:Internet; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D040541:Marketing; D011050:Policy Making; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires