Carrying Medicines To Qatar: What You Need To Know

Carrying medicines with you is important, but those medicines can cause you big trouble if you’re not careful. There are certain rules and regulations laid down in regards to carrying medications that one must abide by.

So, when travelling abroad, it is important to understand the rules regarding carrying medicines.

If you often travel to Qatar and are confused about the law regarding which medicines to carry and the rules, this blog will help you.

The Indian Embassy in Qatar has recently published guidelines on bringing medicines to Qatar. The blog will explain what to do if you want to take the medication in Qatar.

The General Thumb Rule 

If you have been prescribed any medicines, you have to carry the doctor’s prescription along with the original packing. It is a basic rule applicable for all prescribed drugs, and one must follow this while carrying medicines to Qatar. 

What’s not allowed?

The government of Qatar has laid down a strict rule regarding which medicines can be carried to Qatar or not. Here are some medications to look out for when travelling to Qatar. 

• It is prohibited to carry medicines and substances which are banned internationally and locally.

• It is prohibited to carry medicines mentioned in the list (a) and list (b) of Law (9) issued in the year 1987 regarding anti-drugs and dangerous psychotropic substances. Likewise, the items registered at schedule No. (3) of the same Law.

• To carry such medicines, an application is given to the Department of Pharmacology and Drugs Control in the Supreme Council of Health.

Some restricted medicines are Morphine, Lyrica, Tramadol, Xanax, Valium, Zolam, Methadone.

You can find the complete list of restricted medicines here.

To carry the restricted medicines, one has to send an application to the Department of Pharmacology and Drugs Control in the Supreme Council of health. 

Special Permission Grant

Are you worried about carrying medicines to Qatar? There is a special provision through which you can carry medicines to Qatar. Here is how you can apply to get the special provision for carrying medicines to Qatar.

• Diagnosis 
• Seal of the hospital 
• Duration of treatment and how to use 
• The scientific name of medicines, forms and doses

Approval of Request

• If the medicine exhausts, the patient must contact the specialist physician licensed to practice in a hospital to check whether he needs to continue the same medicine.

• If the physician confirms that the patient needs to continue the same treatment, a specific medical file has to be opened in that hospital. The appropriate medicine shall be prescribed through a medical prescription attested by the same hospital. The medicine would be provided from the local pharmacy for the required period. The patient will continue to do follow-ups with the same hospital for his continuous treatment if his medical condition warrants.

• Suppose this medicine or its alternate is not available in the local markets. In that case, the hospital treating the patient can secure this medicine through one of the drugs distributors after obtaining approval from the Department of Pharmacology and Drugs Control in the Supreme Council of Health.

• Suppose the medicine is in the form of injection. In that case, the approval can be obtained under the supervision of any local hospital in the patient's name. The medicine would be registered in the hospital file for personal use as per the procedure for such medication.

• The Department of Pharmacology and Drugs Control in the Supreme Council of the Health will destroy excess medicines.

• The Mission has to send an application to the Department of Pharmacology and Drugs Control in the Supreme Council of Health, mentioning the head of the Mission or the custodian of the drugs. If not so, the accompanying physician would be the custodian of the medicine. The application should be attached with the following:

• To pledge that the medicines would be used by the members of the Mission/delegation only on their responsibility and will not sell or be utilised for any other purpose. To pledge that the excess medicines would be carried back and will destroy used bottles. To pledge to provide details of medicine utilization, reasons for utilisation, excess medicine and destroyed ones before the delegation’s departure to the Department of Drugs and Pharmacology Control in the Supreme Council of Health.

Departing From Qatar

• According to the paragraphs mentioned in the 'special permission grant'  section above, departing patients from Qatar would be treated as par with one coming to Qatar. Quantity of medicine would be allowed for 30 days only.

• If the patient’s medicine is not carried by one of his relatives (parents, children, brothers or spouse), a copy of his ID would be taken. In case the medicine was carried by the patient’s representative, the patient’s written consent for carrying medicine has to be attached. A copy of his ID would be taken.