I hope you are not thinking of posting the drugs.

That is exporting, and you do have to have a licence for that

Trefor 

-----Original Message-----
From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stephen
Sent: 12 March 2008 16:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Prescribing for someone remotely

On 12/03/2008 14:41, Declan Fox wrote:
> First problem is that to prescribe for someone in another country 
> requires a GP to have a licence to practice in that country as well as 
> medical insurance. In the case of African countries, the first might 
> not be all that difficult to arrange but I would guess the second 
> would be very difficult and I can't see any of the medical insurance 
> bodies agreeing to insure a GP who does this without seeing the patient.

I hadn't considered the possibility that one might need a license in another
country to prescribe here for a patient abroad.

> If the patient came to the UK and saw a private GP and agreed to 
> return periodically or could convince said GP that he would arrange 
> follow up in his own country, then I have no doubt that a good big 
> supply of medication could be prescribed for pick up in any UK pharmacy.

That would make things safer.  I think the option the family are exploring
is that of providing an avenue for supply to a patient one has never seen,
on the direction of a physician in that country.

> What are the antihypertensives and is there any compelling reason why 
> the patient should not change to drugs which are available his country?

I don't know the details of the case and therefore don't know the drugs in
question.  My intention was to explore the principle and alternatives.  For
example, I see there are online pharmacies priced in dollars which the
family might explore.

> Travel to another country sounds a bit easier. What country is he in?

Zimbabwe - a country to which at least one online pharmacy won't ship.

--
Regards,

Stephen