Travels – My luggage is gone and my meds were in them

/ Storyteller

Live in Australia? Can you prove that the meds you took on holidays are yours? Do you know what to do if your prescription medication is lost or stolen when you are on holidays overseas?

My mates dad was on a holiday in Europe. He put his hire car into security parking. It’s secure right? He left everything in it, including his prescription medications. He just grabbed a few days worth. While he was away his medications were stolen from that car. Some of those prescription medications you couldn’t just stop taking. He sought assistance from medical professionals over there but they all came back with the same story. They couldn’t help. He didn’t have copies of his scripts. He didn’t have a letter from his doctor saying what he was on.

I’d been doing the exact same thing! Far out. Historically I have just been sticking any prescription medications in their boxes, in a clear plastic bag to go through airport security. The same way as I’d always done … she’ll be right mate!

After hearing of his story I thought it was prime time to go back to the basics.

Go back to the basics with me as I unpack the points from the Australian Government’s YouTube clip on their Smartraveller website. Let’s launch from the YouTube clip overview and take it from there. 

Smartraveller recommendations for Medicines or Medical Devices before you leave https://youtu.be/Dt0AeBtdpYo

  1. Talk to your doctor
  2. Check with destination country that your medication/s or medical device is allowed. The YouTube clip says to go to the consulate for that country.
  3. Bring a letter from your doctor about the medication/s slash device you are taking
    • the letter shows what medicine you are bringing, name, dosage etc.
    • many doctors have their own systems in place for the letter
    • as my doctor gets very busy I prefill form PB302 for taking Australian Medicine overseas and bring it to my doctors appointment https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/pb302.
    • some countries require you to have copies of your prescriptions with you as well the doctor’s letter.
  4. Keep medications in original packaging*
    • some countries require that the spelling of your name on your passport match what is on the medication packaging (e.g Greece)
    • I place them in a clear plastic ziploc bag with the doctors letter
    • Keep your scripts separate from your carryon in the event something happens to your medication. Some people also take photos of their scripts on their phone
  5. Keep enough for your whole trip*
    • Most countries have maximum supply amounts you can bring into their country 30 days (Canada, Croatia), 90 days (France, USA) Duration of stay (Greece, Peru). Check with relevant consulate
  6. Carry it in your hand luggage when you go on the plane
    • I place them in a clear plastic ziploc bag with the doctors letter. I keep them safe with me rather than in the overhead locker.

Before you see your doctor

So firstly you need to think about how far in advance you will need to talk to your doctor. What are you going to talk to them about?

  • Work out what scripts you need. Make sure you have enough for the whole time you are away. (from YouTube clip).
  • Look up the generic names of all the medications you are taking to see if any are restricted or controlled substances for where you are going. Also look at what applies to any stopovers you will be making along the way
  • Plan to bring copies of your script/s on your trip www.health.nsw.gov.au
  • Your Medicare Card – keep it current and make sure it stays valid while you are away. Some countries have Reciprocal Healthcare Agreements with Australia. There are 11 countries that participate;

1 Talk to your doctor

  • A standard consultation in Australia is 15 minutes. Enquire as to whether a longer consultation would be more appropriate.
  • Have purpose for your visit. 
  • My doctor recommended I see him 8 weeks before for my last trip to Italy. He knows my medical history.
  • Keep the chat gap short
  • I’d be asking about any vaccinations first.
  • Letter from doctor that lists the prescription medication you are on dosage etc and their generic name. www.health.nsw.gov.au.
  • Make sure the scripts mirror the name that is on your passport
  • Talk about your holiday, and ask about any scripts that will need renewing.
    • Are the medications you are on OK to take to the country you are visiting? If not what alternative plan can be put together
    • Are there any others they would recommend you get filled before you head overseas? Last time I filled a script for a UTI before I left as a back up

2 Check the medication is allowed where you are going to. Are there any restrictions?

Consular contacts https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations

3 Bring a letter from your doctor

The U.K NHS say if you don’t have a letter from your doctor and copies of your scripts it could pose a real problem. “Medications for recognised health conditions may come under intense scrutiny by foreign officials at border controls. This can result in delays, disruption or medicines being confiscated if the correct paperwork and permissions have not been arranged”. https://www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-and-traveledicines-and-travel

If you didn’t get the letter don’t panic. Print off the Australian Government form PB302 for taking Australian Medicine overseas. Fill it out. You can write out a list of all your meds; strength, quantity, and daily dosage, on the form. It also requires details of the doctor and pharmacist you go to. Place it with your prescriptions in your hand luggage. That doesn’t agree with the YouTube clip but it’s better than nothing. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/pb302

4 Keep it in original packaging – That’s so they can make sure they are for you. Having the same name as on your passport is often recommended

5 Keep enough for your whole trip – There are different rules for each country. Not all countries will let me bring in my medication for the duration of my stay. This needs to be checked at the same time as when you are You are already checking to see whether you can bring in your medication

  • Canada – 30 days
  • Italy 30 days
  • Croatia 1 month
  • South Africa 1 month
  • France 3 months
  • United Kingdom – 3 months for personal use
  • Greece – Duration of your stay
  • Peru – Duration of your stay

6 Carry it in your hand luggage when you go on the plane – Really pharma people? Could you make your boxes any bigger. It’s like their saying “look at me, look at me” as I put them in that nice clear plastic bag and then squeeze them into my carry on.

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So having gone through even these 6 basic points it’s glaringly obvious that if I lost my meds or had them stolen I’d be up the creek. I never brought my scripts to Italy, I never even photographed them, and that doctors letter (oh are you hiding in the corner?) Well that’s a no too. I’m so glad I didn’t lose anything like my mates poor dad.

Secondly I scouted around other government websites in Europe for a bit of context on any other reasons I need my scripts and/or letter from the doctor

OK that’s a great reason too. I’m on holidays. I don’t want any delays if I can help it. My take away, stick to the basics and already you are in a good space. The 6 steps found on the YouTube clip from Smartraveller are worth looking at.

But hang on you said what about if you did lose them or have them stolen? Yeah I am still sketchy on this part of the blog so take it with a grain of salt. Here’s what I can see so far.

  • If you need medical assistance contact your travel agent www.smarttraveller.gov.au
  • If you don’t have a letter from the doctor or copies of your scripts talk to your doctor in Australia for guidance for replacement scripts. Beware of timezone differences. I think here the best case scenario would be for them to email you the script/s for the local doctor to go from. I’ll chat with my doctor when I see them next.
  • Book in to see a local doctor in that country. The Australian consulate can provide a list of doctors that speak English. www.smarttraveller.gov.au
  • Travel Insurance – Be aware of costs associated with visiting the doctor and cost of scripts to have them filled. Are you covered by your travel insurance? 
  • There will be out of pocket expenses. Do you have enough funds to purchase scripts before you claim them back through your insurance upon your return?

That’s it for me for now. I’ll update this when more info becomes available.

Websites

Australia

Italy

United Kingdom

Travel Health Pro https://www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-and-travel

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