Pinoys in Saudi Arabia reminded of procedures for bringing in ‘narcotics’

Filipinos in Saudi Arabia were reminded over the weekend to comply with the Kingdom's requirements on bringing in or out medicines with narcotic properties.

The Philippine embassy in Riyadh urged Filipinos bringing such medicines in and out of the Kingdom to "carefully read, understand and comply with the requirements."

"The Embassy requests all Filipinos who may be bringing into the Kingdom their medicines to carefully read, understand and comply with the requirements, in order not to be inconvenienced or questioned during entry into the Kingdom," it said.

Among the conditions are:

- a detailed medical report from the institution or hospital that treated the patient. Its date shall not exceed six months.

- doctor's prescription, date of which shall not exceed six months from date of issuance. The patient must also assure he/she will limit his/her use of medicines for medicinal purposes only.

"The amount of medicine for approval and release should be sufficient for a period of 30 days or for the duration of the patient’s stay in the Kingdom, whichever is lesser," the embassy said.

In case the medicine is already consumed, the patient should visit a hospital/ medical specialist to ensure the continuation of his medication.

If a physician has confirmed the need for the patient to continue similar medication, the hospital shall require the patient to fill out an application form prior to the issuance of a prescription on an appropriate medicine from a local pharmacy/market.

The patient is required to continue visiting the hospital for his therapeutic treatment, as may be required by his medical condition.

Patients leaving the Kingdom shall abide with the same procedures as those patients arriving.

"If the patient’s medicines are not in his possession but in the possession of one of his relatives (parents, children, brothers and husband), the patient’s identity card is required. However, if the medicines are in the possession of his representative, an Affidavit of Consent of the patient to bring the medicines is required, including a copy of his identity card," the embassy said.

Hajj

If the medicines containing narcotic substances are in the possession of Hajj Missions or concerned government authorities arriving in the Kingdom, and will be used by patients accompanying the Mission, the medicines will be subject to the following procedures:

- The Mission should submit a Request for Release of such medicines to the General Authority for Food and Drugs Administration’s Branch at the customs port area, which will receive the medicines.

- Specify the name of the Head of Mission as well as the name of the pharmacist or pharmaceutical technician accompanying the Mission who is responsible for the custody of the narcotic substances and, if there is no Head of Mission, the name of the doctor accompanying the Mission, is sufficient.

- Limit the number of personnel of the Mission.

- When the Mission leaves the Kingdom, they are required to submit a copy of the list of medicines that were used/consumed, damaged, and unused.

— Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

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