Medication when travelling abroad

Under United Kingdom law, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for the medical care of patients when they leave the UK.  In addition, under the terms of the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, General Practice surgeries are not required to provide prescriptions for the treatment of conditions that are not present at the point of travel but might arise while the patient is abroad. 

The NHS does accept responsibility for supplying ongoing medication for temporary periods abroad, for periods of up to three months. Some medications, such as certain controlled drugs, may only be prescribed for periods of up to twenty-eight days at any one time.

If a person is going to be abroad for more than three months, then the NHS will provide a sufficient supply of regular medication in order for the patient to get to their destination, where they should then find an alternative supply of that medication.

If you are travelling abroad for longer than three months, and therefore require more than three months worth of medication, we would recommend that you discuss this, in the first instance, with your travel insurance provider.

• Healthcare abroad
• Take medicine in or out of the UK