(Riyadh, 20 November 2014) – The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh recently received from the concerned Saudi authorities a copy of regulations and measures in bringing medicines with narcotics properties in and out of the Kingdom for personal use.
The Embassy requests all Filipinos who may be bringing into the Kingdom their medicines to carefully read, understand and comply with the requirements, in order not to be inconvenienced or questioned during entry into the Kingdom.
The rationale for the procedures and measures in releasing regulated medicines, which contain narcotic/psychotropic substances, brought by a patient arriving in and leaving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for personal use, or by a Hajj Mission or concerned government authorities accompanying the Mission is as follows:
It prevents the release of regulated medicines considered restricted/banned from being used internationally and domestically;
It prevents the release of medicines as stated in Category (D) of Table I and Group (A) of Table II on the System on Anti-Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, as well as substances stated in Paragraph IV in the System on Anti-Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
The request for the release of medicines should pass through the General Authority for Food and Drugs Administration’s Branch at the customs port or at the General Authority for Food and Drugs Administration, in the absence of a branch in the area or region.
It allows the release of the medicines brought in by patients into the Kingdom for personal use, in accordance with the following conditions:
MEDICAL REPORT
Attached detailed medical report from the medical institution/hospital which treated the patient;
Date of the medical report shall not exceed six (6) months period; and
Medical report should contain the following information:
Personal information about the patient
Medical diagnosis
Medical application and duration
Medical recommendations
Scientific name of the medicine and pharmaceutical brands and dosage prescriptions or,
DOCTOR’S PRESCRIPTION
Attached accredited doctor’s prescription of the patient from the hospital;
The date in the doctor’s prescription shall not exceeds six (6) months from date of issuance thereof; and
The doctor’s prescription should contain the following information:
Diagnosis of the patient
Scientific name of the medicine and pharmaceutical brands and prescriptions
Usage of the medicine and the duration of the treatment
Official dry seal of the hospital that treated the patient
Assurance and responsibility of the patient to limit his use of medicines for medicinal purposes only.
Attached copy of patient’s identity card.
The amount of medicine for approval and release should be sufficient for a period of thirty (30) days or for the duration of the patient’s stay in the Kingdom, whichever is lesser, and that such medicines are still valid for consumption, with the following considerations:
In case the medicine is already consumed, the patient should visit a hospital/ medical specialist to ensure the continuation of his medication.
In case the physician has confirmed the need for the patient to continue similar medication, the hospital shall require the patient to fill up an application prior to the issuance of a prescription on an appropriate medicine from a local pharmacy/market; the said patient is required to continue visiting the hospital for his therapeutic treatment, as may be required by his medical condition.
In case of non-availability of medicines or its alternative brands in the local market, the designated hospital could shall secure the required medicines from medical distributors after securing approval from the General Authority for Food and Drugs Administration.
For injectable medicines, the approval for its release may be facilitated through the supervision of a local hospital on behalf of the patient, with the precondition that the medicines should be registered under the said hospital for personal use in accordance with existing medical regulations.
If the amount of medicine to be released exceeds the required amount needed by the patient, the excess must be confiscated.
Patients leaving the Kingdom shall abide with the same procedures as those patients arriving in the Kingdom under Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of this Article, and the amount of medicine which may be released must cover a maximum period of three (3) consecutive months.
If the patient’s medicines are not in his possession but in the possession of one of his relatives (parents, children, brothers and husband), the patient’s identity card is required. However, if the medicines are in the possession of his representative, an Affidavit of Consent of the patient to bring the medicines is required, including a copy of his identity card.
In the event that the medicines containing narcotic substances are in the possession of Hajj Missions or concerned government authorities arriving in the Kingdom, and will be used by patients accompanying the Mission, the said medicines will be subject to the following procedures:
The Mission should submit a Request for Release of such medicines to the General Authority for Food and Drugs Administration’s Branch at the customs port area, which will receive the medicines.
Specify the name of the Head of Mission as well as the name of the pharmacist or pharmaceutical technician accompanying the Mission who is responsible for the custody of the narcotic substances and, if there is no Head of Mission, the name of the doctor accompanying the Mission, is sufficient.
Limit the number of personnel of the Mission.
Request must attached the following:
List of requested medicines certified by the competent government authority of the Mission showing the scientific name of the narcotic medicines, and pharmaceutical brands, concentration, and quantity.
Assurance and responsibility to limit the use of the medicines to the members of the Mission only, and it will not be sold to or disposed of by any means, and that the used/consumed, damaged and unused medicines should be brought back by the Mission when leaving the Kingdom. A list of medicines used, consumed, or damaged by the Mission should be provided to the General Authority for Food and Drugs Administration’s Branch located at the customs area before leaving the Kingdom.
The Mission should have medical doctor but all the medicines are under the direct supervision of the Head of Mission.
The requested medicine is free from banned substances, recognized internationally or locally, in the Kingdom.
Importation of medicines with narcotic substances are allowed through airplanes.
Upon the approval of the request, a permit will be released to the General Authority for Food and Drugs Administration’s Branch through the supervisor who is in charge of the Cargo Section at the customs area.
The General Authority for Food and Drugs Administration’s Branch in the municipality or in the region receiving the medicines has the right to either accept, reject and/or amend the request for reasonable grounds.
When the Mission leaves the Kingdom, they are required to submit a copy of the list of medicines that were used/consumed, damaged, and unused.
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