Searching for medicines abroad can be a difficult task for Ukrainians. Find out how to prepare for a trip and find analogs of common medicines in European countries

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside of Ukraine

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Many Ukrainians have left the country because of the war, and some citizens periodically travel to Europe for private business and tourism. When traveling, people often forget to take care of the availability of the medicines they need in the country of temporary residence or at the new place of residence in advance. Therefore, below we will consider the key points regarding the search for analogues, the procedure for purchasing medicines abroad and share useful tips.

Preparing to leave Ukraine: consulting a doctor

Before leaving Ukraine, be sure to consult your family doctor about:

– Analogs of the medicines you need

– Key active ingredients in medicines that can be found abroad

– The recommended dosage

Write down the names of the medicines, take pictures of the packaging, and check the dosage. And if you have been outside Ukraine for a long time, contact your doctor to update this information.

Rules for importing and exporting medicines

Before traveling, be sure to familiarize yourself with the conditions for importing and exporting medicines in the country of destination. Don't forget to take them with you:

– A prescription from your doctor

– Printed certificate of quality of medicines

For the list of prohibited items, products and medicines that cannot be transported across the border, please follow the link.

If you have purchased an unregistered drug abroad and are returning to Ukraine, you can import it into the country. According to the Law of Ukraine “On Medicinal Products” (Section V, Article 17), medicinal products that are not registered in Ukraine are allowed to be imported for individual use.

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Peculiarities of purchasing prescription drugs abroad

In most European countries, the United Kingdom and the United States, a prescription is required to purchase prescription drugs:

– Contact a local doctor to obtain a prescription

– Purchase medicines in a pharmacy by presenting a prescription

As a rule, you can buy without a prescription:

– Painkillers

– Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

A prescription is required for:

– Antibiotics

– Hormonal drugs

– Specific groups of medicines

How to find analogs of Ukrainian medicines in Europe?

If you do not have the opportunity to consult a doctor, you can try to find an analog on your own. To do this, you can use the special application “Medicines Control” (you can download it from the App Store or Google Play). Detailed instructions on how to use the generic search function can be found on the official website.

Please note! You can find out the international non-proprietary name and ATC code by which you can find a medicine on the website of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. To do this, you need to find the drug by name and click on the registration certificate number (RP number). This information can be used to search for analogs in foreign drug databases.

If you don't have time to search for analogs through special registries and applications, you can buy the drug at a pharmacy by the active ingredient:

1. Determine the active ingredient of your medicine (usually indicated in the instructions, but you can also find this information online)

2. Ask the pharmacy to find the medicine by the name of the active ingredient.

Important! Be sure to check with your pharmacist if you need a prescription to purchase the medicine.

By the way, insurance is an indispensable tool in dealing with medical care abroad. The policy will not only guarantee you financial stability in the event of an accident or illness, but will also help you get expert advice on treatment and the procedure for applying to foreign medical institutions. You can get insurance from reliable and trusted insurance agents on the Visit Ukraine portal.

And for those who travel abroad by car, our portal offers compulsory international insurance “Green Card”. Follow the link to apply for a policy quickly and easily.

Do you have additional questions? Contact the Visit Ukraine hotline (Telegram | WhatsApp).

We remind you! Travel safety requires insurance. Despite the simplification of travel procedures due to martial law in Ukraine, insurance policy verification is possible when crossing the border of any country. Read more about why having insurance is important for Ukrainians in our previous article.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

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