When importing medicines to Poland, it is important to take into account the legislation governing the relevant issue. According to Polish regulations, Ukrainians are allowed to import medicines for their own needs, but their types and quantity are limited. Find out more about what medicines you can take with you from Ukraine to Poland

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Ukrainians abroad often face difficulties in purchasing medicines that they use in Ukraine. This problem makes it necessary to take a supply of medicines with you for your own safety, uainkrakow.pl writes.

We will tell you what medicines you can take with you to Poland and what documents you need to have when transporting special medicines.

In what quantity can medicines be taken across the border?

According to Polish law, persons are allowed to import medicines for their own use in an amount not exceeding 5 smallest packages. The same limit applies in Ukraine. For example, if the drug is packaged in blisters of 20, 30, 50 or 90 tablets, then no more than 5 blisters of 20 tablets can be imported across the border. If the dosage of the active ingredient in the tablets is less than the amount required for treatment, larger packages are allowed to be imported.

This restriction applies to various forms of medicines, including solid (tablets, capsules, dragees), soft (ointments, creams, gels), liquid (solutions, tinctures, drops) and gaseous (aerosols). 

Please note! It is important to ensure safe transportation so that the packaging or the medicines themselves are not damaged, for example, ampoules can break and candles can melt when exposed to heat.

How do I import prescription drugs to Poland?

When importing prescription medicines, the Ministry of Health of Poland recommends that you have a document confirming the medical need for these medicines, such as a prescription from a doctor, a copy of a medical record, pharmacy receipts, or a doctor's certificate with a diagnosis and recommended course of treatment. 

Ukrainians can import more than 5 packages of medicines to Poland if they have a chronic disease that requires long-term or even lifelong treatment. However, to do so, you must have all the necessary permits and declare the medicines in writing.

Please note! The document from the medical institution must be certified and have the signatures of the attending physician and the chief physician or director of the medical institution. 

It is important to note that the shelf life of medicines limits the ability to stock up on medicines for a long period of time. Also, the presence of a large number of medicines in a box may arouse the suspicions of border guards. 

These rules apply to all medicines, except for those containing narcotic, psychotropic substances or precursors of category 1.  A precursor is an initial component from which any substance is manufactured. 

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What do I need to import prohibited medicines?

If you have a need to import prohibited medicines when crossing the border, you must have the appropriate medical documentation confirming the appropriateness of their use. When crossing the border, you may need an extract from your medical history or outpatient record, which must contain a doctor's note on the prescription of narcotic or psychotropic drugs, as well as a special prescription No. 3. One prescription is issued on one form for each type of medicine.

To import such medicines into Poland, you need to obtain a certificate from the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector. For this purpose, a corresponding request should be submitted. 

A permit for the importation of medicines containing narcotic, psychotropic substances or precursors of category 1 is issued within 15 days before crossing the border and is valid for no more than 30 days. One copy of this document remains at the inspection, and the other is given to the person transporting the medicines. This permit must be presented to customs upon entry.

It is considered a crime to try to import such medicines from Ukraine to Poland without a permit. It should be borne in mind that some medicines, such as cough drops, may contain prohibited substances. Therefore, it is recommended to contact a medical specialist or pharmacist for advice before exporting such medicines.

Most of the OTC medicines that Ukrainians buy in Ukraine are available in Poland at similar prices. These include painkillers and antipyretics, remedies for digestive problems, anti-allergic medicines, cough syrups, as well as vitamins, antiseptics, and sedatives. A variety of medical products such as cotton wool, plasters, thermometers, diagnostic tests, contact lenses and compression garments are also readily available in Polish pharmacies, supermarkets and cosmetics stores.

How to protect yourself while abroad?

Remember that reliable insurance is the key to a tourist's confidence and safety while traveling. After all, an insurance policy will not only help you get quality medical care, but also save your own money in an unforeseen situation.

You can buy insurance on the Visit Ukraine website here.

We remind you! The Polish government is planning to consider a number of updated rules for Ukrainian citizens who have taken refuge in the country since the beginning of the full-scale war. Read more about what may change for refugees in Poland in the near future in our previous article.


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