What medicines can be imported to Poland and in what quantity?

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

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

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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 them for their own safety, writes uainkrakow.pl.

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

How much medicine can you take across the border?

According to Polish law, individuals are allowed to import medicines for personal use in quantities of no more than 5 smallest packages. The same limit applies in Ukraine. For example, if a drug is packaged in blisters of 20, 30, 50, or 90 tablets, then no more than 5 blisters of 20 tablets can be brought across the border. If the dosage of the active ingredient in the tablets is less than what is needed for treatment, larger packages may be brought in.

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 transport so that the packaging or the medicines themselves are not damaged, for example, ampoules may break and suppositories may melt under the influence of heat.

Read also: Medicines that cannot be imported into EU countries — list of prohibited drugs

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How to import prescription medicines into Poland?

When importing prescription drugs, the Polish Ministry of Health recommends having a document confirming the person's medical need for these drugs, such as a prescription from a doctor, a copy of a medical card, receipts from pharmacies, or a doctor's note with the diagnosis and recommended course of treatment.

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

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

It is important to note that the shelf life of drugs limits the possibility of stocking up on drugs for a long period in advance. Also, the presence of a large amount of drugs in a box may arouse the suspicion of border guards.

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

By the way, if you are traveling to Poland or another EU country, don't forget to take out medical insurance. The policy should cover emergency medical care, treatment, hospitalization, and transportation to a hospital in case of illness or injury abroad. You can quickly take out insurance online on the Visit Ukraine website — it's convenient, easy, and affordable.

What do you need to transport prohibited medications?

If you need to import prohibited medications when crossing the border, you must have the appropriate medical documentation confirming the necessity of their use. When crossing the border, you may need an extract from your medical history or outpatient card, which must contain a doctor's note regarding 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 medication.

To import such drugs into Poland, you must obtain a certificate from the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector. To do this, you must submit a corresponding request.

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

Attempting to import such medicines from Ukraine to Poland without a permit is considered a crime. It should be noted that some medicines, such as cough tablets, may contain prohibited substances. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a medical professional or pharmacist before exporting such medicines.

Most over-the-counter medicines that Ukrainians buy in Ukraine are available in Poland at similar prices. These include painkillers and fever reducers, medicines for treating digestive problems, antiallergic medicines, cough syrups, as well as vitamins, antiseptics, and sedatives. Polish pharmacies, supermarkets, and cosmetics stores also offer a wide range of medical products, such as cotton wool, plasters, thermometers, diagnostic tests, contact lenses, and compression hosiery.

Read also: What items are prohibited from being transported across the border when leaving Ukraine

Remember that reliable insurance is a guarantee of confidence and safety for tourists while traveling. After all, an insurance policy will not only help you get quality medical care, but also save your money in an unpredictable situation. At Visit Ukraine, you can take out a policy in a few minutes online: it is valid in all EU countries and guarantees round-the-clock medical support.

We remind you! Ukrainian e-prescriptions will become valid in EU countries as part of a pilot digital identification project. Read about how the European Wallet will work, in which countries Ukrainians will be able to obtain medicines, and why this is important for patients abroad.

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