With airports soon to be filled with people off on their summer travels, it is important they know what they can and can’t bring abroad with them. Fiona Macrae, head of consumer awareness initiative travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk, has urged travellers to be aware of the medications they bring on holiday.
Research by travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk, of 5,000 UK holidaymakers has revealed that nearly three in ten people (30%) admit to taking medication abroad without checking if it is allowed or authorised in the country of destination.
Not all medications legal in the UK have the same status in other places in the world. For example codeine can be bought with a prescription in the UK, but it is illegal in many parts of Asia and trying to take the medication without approval or a permit into the country, could end with a prison sentence.
Fiona Macrae from travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk, said:
“Research by travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk found that 1 in 5 (20%) travellers have travelled on holiday without taking enough medication for the entire duration of their trip, which could leave travellers in remote locations stranded without access to vital medication. In other cases, taking too much medication is also a problem because some countries will want to verify that you have the exact amount of medication for the length of the trip, and taking far too much medication could end up with you falling fowl of the laws of the country you are visiting.”
“The painkiller Tramadol is illegal in Egypt, people without the relevant approval to take it may find themselves being detained upon arrival. Even more surprising is, due to Japan’s strict anti-stimulant drug laws, any drugs containing pseudoephedrine like cold and flu medication, such as Sudafed and Vicks inhalers, are prohibited, so if you are travelling with these medications to Japan, you will need a letter from your GP confirming why you are taking them and the dosage, even if they are not on prescription.”
“We advise people who will bring their medications with them on holiday to ensure they check the guidelines with the Embassy of the country they are travelling to. We would also advise them to have a copy of their prescription, keep the medication in the original packaging and get a note from their GP before travelling. It’s important to note that travel insurance will not compensate you if you are refused entry to a country for any reason.”
Website: http://www.travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk
Scenic commissioned research:https://www.scenic.co.uk/
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