Getting prescription meds while waiting for inland PR

[Leah&Jeremy]

Hi everyone!

So we've applied inland for my American hubby's PR, he's here as a visitor while we're waiting. He has hypothyroidism, and is on meds for it. He brought a few months supply with him, but my question is...what's the best way to go about getting him more meds here in Ontario?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Canada2020eh]

Hi everyone!

So we've applied inland for my American hubby's PR, he's here as a visitor while we're waiting. He has hypothyroidism, and is on meds for it. He brought a few months supply with him, but my question is...what's the best way to go about getting him more meds here in Ontario?

Thanks in advance!

Go to a medical clinic or your family Dr if you have one for a consultation, bring a copy of a previous prescription if he has one, hopefully he does. He will have to pay the Dr at the clinic for the consultation then to the pharmacy. Is it just a GP that he gets his prescription from at his home country or is it a specialist? If it's a specialist will probably still have to see a GP first to get a referral to see the specialist.

 

[zardoz]

Hi everyone!

So we've applied inland for my American hubby's PR, he's here as a visitor while we're waiting. He has hypothyroidism, and is on meds for it. He brought a few months supply with him, but my question is...what's the best way to go about getting him more meds here in Ontario?

Thanks in advance!

Note that he is probably not permitted to import prescription medications, even for personal use without a licence. As he is here applying for PR under the "Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class" it's unlikely that he would be considered a "visitor" for Customs purposes.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d19/d19-9-1-eng.html

Personal Importation of Prescription Drugs
Health Canada considers a personal importation as an importation by an individual for their own use or for the use of a person under their care or guardianship and which does not meet the definition of a commercial importation as set out in paragraph 16 of this memorandum.

22. Under C.01.045 of the Food and Drug Regulations, importation of prescription drugs is restricted to practitioners, drug manufacturers, wholesale druggists or registered pharmacists, or a resident of a foreign country while a visitor in Canada. Note that drugs imported by practitioners for treating patients are not considered to be personal importations but rather commercial importation for sale.

Canadian Residents

23. Health Canada may exercise enforcement discretion to permit a Canadian returning from abroad to bring with them, on their person, a single course of treatment or a 90-day supply based on the directions for use, whichever is less, of a prescription drug. This discretion is generally reserved for Canadian residents returning to Canada with prescription drugs which were dispensed for a treatment prior to leaving Canada, or drugs obtained through a filled prescription to treat an illness while abroad.

24. Prescription drugs imported in this fashion must be for the individual's personal use or the use of a person for whom they are responsible and with whom they are travelling.Additionally, all personal importations of prescription drugs must be packaged in the hospital, pharmacy dispensing or retail packaging, or have the original label affixed to it clearly indicating what the product is and what it contains.

25. The CBSA may detain and refer prescription drugs to Health Canada when these conditions are not met.

26. Canadian residents may not import prescription drugs by mail or courier.

Non-Residents of Canada

27. Visitors to Canada and non-residents arriving from abroad are permitted to import a single course of treatment or a 90-day supply of a prescription drug hand-carried for their personal use or the use of a person under their care and with whom they are travelling.

28. Visitors and non-residents are allowed to import a single course of treatment or a 90 day supply of a prescription drug by mail or courier.

29. All personal importations of prescription drugs must be packaged in the hospital, pharmacy dispensing or retail packaging, or have the original label affixed to it clearly indicating what the product is and what it contains.

30. The CBSA may detain and refer prescription drugs to Health Canada when these conditions are not met.

 

[Leah&Jeremy]

Note that he is probably not permitted to import prescription medications, even for personal use without a licence. As he is here applying for PR under the "Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class" it's unlikely that he would be considered a "visitor" for Customs purposes.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d19/d19-9-1-eng.html

Personal Importation of Prescription Drugs
Health Canada considers a personal importation as an importation by an individual for their own use or for the use of a person under their care or guardianship and which does not meet the definition of a commercial importation as set out in paragraph 16 of this memorandum.

22. Under C.01.045 of the Food and Drug Regulations, importation of prescription drugs is restricted to practitioners, drug manufacturers, wholesale druggists or registered pharmacists, or a resident of a foreign country while a visitor in Canada. Note that drugs imported by practitioners for treating patients are not considered to be personal importations but rather commercial importation for sale.

Canadian Residents

23. Health Canada may exercise enforcement discretion to permit a Canadian returning from abroad to bring with them, on their person, a single course of treatment or a 90-day supply based on the directions for use, whichever is less, of a prescription drug. This discretion is generally reserved for Canadian residents returning to Canada with prescription drugs which were dispensed for a treatment prior to leaving Canada, or drugs obtained through a filled prescription to treat an illness while abroad.

24. Prescription drugs imported in this fashion must be for the individual's personal use or the use of a person for whom they are responsible and with whom they are travelling.Additionally, all personal importations of prescription drugs must be packaged in the hospital, pharmacy dispensing or retail packaging, or have the original label affixed to it clearly indicating what the product is and what it contains.

25. The CBSA may detain and refer prescription drugs to Health Canada when these conditions are not met.

26. Canadian residents may not import prescription drugs by mail or courier.

Non-Residents of Canada

27. Visitors to Canada and non-residents arriving from abroad are permitted to import a single course of treatment or a 90-day supply of a prescription drug hand-carried for their personal use or the use of a person under their care and with whom they are travelling.

28. Visitors and non-residents are allowed to import a single course of treatment or a 90 day supply of a prescription drug by mail or courier.

29. All personal importations of prescription drugs must be packaged in the hospital, pharmacy dispensing or retail packaging, or have the original label affixed to it clearly indicating what the product is and what it contains.

30. The CBSA may detain and refer prescription drugs to Health Canada when these conditions are not met.

Thank you! This part is what I'm wondering about now:

28. Visitors and non-residents are allowed to import a single course of treatment or a 90 day supply of a prescription drug by mail or courier.

He would be considered a non resident even if they don't consider him a visitor though right? If so, could a family member mail him more of his meds in theory? I might just be really misunderstanding this lol, its been a long day! Thank you for any help!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you! This part is what I'm wondering about now:

28. Visitors and non-residents are allowed to import a single course of treatment or a 90 day supply of a prescription drug by mail or courier.

He would be considered a non resident even if they don't consider him a visitor though right? If so, could a family member mail him more of his meds in theory? I might just be really misunderstanding this lol, its been a long day! Thank you for any help!

It is an either/or scenario. Either you bring the single course with you or you have it sent to you once in Canada. You can't double it to get 180 days.

 

[Leah&Jeremy]

It is an either/or scenario. Either you bring the single course with you or you have it sent to you once in Canada. You can't double it to get 180 days.

Oh I see, thank you!