The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) clarified that residents and tourists, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who are entering the UAE with personal regular medicines no longer need to secure permit.
Clarifying previous reports, MOHAP said that the new rule mandating residents and visitors with personal medicine only applies to narcotic-based, psychotropic and controlled medicines and not for regular medicines.
If a person will be bringing narcotic-based, psychotropic and controlled medicines for personal use, an electronic approval form available on MOHAP’s website is needed.
Carriers have to create a profile on the on the ministry’s website and upload the necessary documents such as:
– A valid medical prescription; if the original of the prescription is retained in the pharmacy that dispensed the preparation, the traveler should keep an attested copy of the prescription
– Authenticated certificate and/or permit, from the health authority of the country of departure, confirming his/her legal authority to possess, for personal use, medical preparations mentioned therein
– A copy of passport
Once submitted, the ministry will review and decide on the request for one working day. The medicines will be checked at the country’s entry ports by a ministry inspector with the cooperation of customs. Disapproved medicines will be seized at the airport.
The amount of medicine to be allowed should also not exceed dosage for 3 months for regular or prescription only medicine and 30 days for controlled medicine, as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.
