Prescription from Abu Dhabi

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Nicola Cole — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 20:43:50 GMT

[quote user="shanley barber"]

Further update:

I recieved a reply from the VMD:

'A vet cannot supply medicines to the client against a prescription from a vet from Abu Dhabi. As the overseas vet is not a RCVS registered vet, the prescription is not a valid prescription in the UK.'

Thank you all for your help!

Shanley

[/quote]

Why can we not accept a prescription from a non-RCVS registered vet yet we accept import documents/proof of rabies vaccinations etc from non-RCVS registered vets?

P.s. I'm not saying we shouldn't accept import documents (otherwise nothing would ever travel very far) but a signature is a signature....

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Stephen Courtney — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 19:53:51 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Phenobarbitone would be a no go area from the start for me.[/quote]The prescription was from a RCVS registered vet on headed practice paper, the client/courier was well known to me so I have absolutely no doubt as to the authenticity of the request, two VMD inspectors in succession agreed I could do it legally, I've kept the scripts and the drugs are entered into the CD register which they have witnessed, it is not my responsibility what the client does with it afterwards. It would be no skin off my nose to refuse, its hardly making my day in terms of takings but at least the cat is getting treated.

[/quote]

I too would supply the drug in this situation without an ethical qualm whatsoever. I too would want the animal to be treated.

But if I was the courier.... madness. unless they had it in writing that they could do so without being arrested.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Bob Russell — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 17:27:15 GMT

I am clearly mixing up two situations with two different posters!

A non-UK registered vet in a middle eastern country would not be acceptable for controlled drugs but I would not have been overly concerned with Pexium (for example). I would not have asked permission!

An RCVS registered vet might be a bit different and I would have fewer concerns with sending controlled drugs with lower risks of abuse.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 17:18:17 GMT

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Bob Russell — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 11:02:26 GMT

OP stated not a controlled drug!

Phenobarbitone would be a no go area from the start for me.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Stephen Courtney — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 20:17:24 GMT

That seems to be that! I suspect it would have been better not to have asked... bureaucrats are highly unlikely to avoid making a rule if they have an opportunity, after all.[quote user="shanley barber"]

Further update:

I recieved a reply from the VMD:

Thank you all for your help!

Shanley

[/quote]

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Stephen Courtney — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 20:15:36 GMT

No it was Martin's client in Bahrain wanting phenobarbitone - which is a controlled drug , indeed apparently forbidden there, clearly they don't have epilepsy there.... - that I was referring to, sorry should have made that clear!

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Bob Russell — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 15:46:27 GMT

This prescription is not for a controlled drug.

I probably would have either quietly got on with sending the medicine or quietly declining! Before sending I would have checked very carefully what the legal status of the drug is in Dubai or any other middle eastern country. Even carrying Paracetamol/codeine through the airport can get you in front of the courts! One reason I put non-essential medication into checked luggage rather than hand on any flight that has a stop over in any of these countries.

Now VMD have said no, you really have little choice. Sometimes better to be able to plead ignorance.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Stephen Courtney — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 14:33:32 GMT

Regardless of the issue of honouring the prescription, i think anyone who carries controlled drugs into certain countries is a fool - and I'd include the Gulf States in that - the prospect of spending a couple of years in their legal system for drug smuggling is beyond the Pale.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

bob lehner — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 13:43:21 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

No, but with the history you could effectively prescribe the drug from your clinical assessment. You don't have to physically examine the animal.

[/quote]

But if it's a POM-V product the animal must be 'under your care' - i.e. you have to have seen it at some point.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 01:17:11 GMT

No, but with the history you could effectively prescribe the drug from your clinical assessment. You don't have to physically examine the animal.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

shanley barber — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 15:51:29 GMT

Further update:

I recieved a reply from the VMD:

Thank you all for your help!

Shanley

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 11:20:05 GMT

[quote user="Iain Richards"]So why didn't RCVS suggest it? That's a genuine question, not a cheap dig at the college. [/quote]For the reasons I suggested before (I presume you thought that was a cheap dig at he College)!

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Iain Richards — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 23:37:16 GMT

[quote user="shanley barber"]

Hi Marie,

That sounds like a very sensible idea!

Thank you!

Shanley

[/quote]Very Sensible. So why didn't RCVS suggest it? That's a genuine question, not a cheap dig at the college. This must have cropped up before, you would think suggestions would be ready on file.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

shanley barber — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 21:18:53 GMT

Hi Marie,

That sounds like a very sensible idea!

Thank you!

Shanley

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Marie Kubiak — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:10:25 GMT

I've had a similar request in the past - I just requested the medical history from the practice issuing the prescription. They sent over full notes which confirmed the patient's details, clinical history, indication for drug and listed the vet's name against the notes so I was pretty happy this wasn't a fake!

Marie

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:10:17 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]Anyone supplying a veterinary medicine against a written prescription must take reasonable steps to ensure the prescription is genuine[/quote]The word 'reasonable' is the key here.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Rob Loxley — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 13:49:02 GMT

The OP says [quote user="shanley barber"]

I cannot find the vet who has written the prescription on the RCVS website, but I suspect she is European, therefore doesn't need to register as MRCVS. I have tried to contact the RCVS (multiple times) with no reply, and the VMD

[/quote]

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]it is a VMD issue.[/quote]

From the gov.uk website:

"Anyone supplying a veterinary medicine against a written prescription must take reasonable steps to ensure the prescription is genuine

How to reduce or discourage unauthorised alterations

For suppliers:

if the client is new, telephone the vet named on the prescription
check the name and address of the vet or practice on the RCVS website (N.B Not all veterinary premises are published on the RCVS website. If in any doubt contact the RCVS)
check the name and address of the pharmacist on the GPhC or PSNI website
check the List of SQPs and Register of Approved SQP Retailers Premises
if the prescription is unclear or there are amendments check with the prescriber
if you do dispense against faxed or emailed prescriptions ask for the original prescription"

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 11:58:01 GMT

[quote user="shanley barber"]... i need to check that the vet who has issued the prescription is registered to practice in the country that they have issued the prescription from. [/quote]This sounds like they are just saying something for the sake of it to make themselves sound useful. Once the vet is outside the jurisdiction of the RCVS i.e. they're not registered with them, I cannot see what this has to do with them, it is a VMD issue. If the person presenting the prescription to you had decided to redeem it online or at a pharmacy, who is going to check where the vet who wrote the script is working? As far as I can see, the only thing that is important is that they declare the animal is under their care, its not our responsibility to check their credibility unless you have reasonable reason to doubt they are qualified at all.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

shanley barber — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 21:45:57 GMT

Just to update you all: I've just spoken to RCVS (after much badgering) and apparently i need to check that the vet who has issued the prescription is registered to practice in the country that they have issued the prescription from.

Not sure how easy that will be to get an answer from a Ministry in the UAE....

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 12:01:07 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]

Apparently the people of Bahrain don't like the Flintstones.. But those in Abu Dhabi do.

[/quote]

There's *got* to be something in the Guide about stuff like this...ow ow ow ow ow that was painful

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Catriona MacIntyre — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 21:37:25 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]

Apparently the people of Bahrain don't like the Flintstones.. But those in Abu Dhabi do.

[/quote]

Thank you Robin. I'm tired after a busy weekend on call, and had a bit of a rubbish day, but I had a dram and checked the forum, and now have a fit of the giggles!

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Robin Grimmer — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 14:27:55 GMT

Apparently the people of Bahrain don't like the Flintstones.. But those in Abu Dhabi do.

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 13:03:37 GMT

[quote user="roland bulkyn-rackowe"]...the owner wanted to obtain Pimobendan for a dog in Columbia.[/quote]I can't imagine anything going into Columbia could be dodgier than what comes out!

RE: Prescription from Abu Dhabi

Roland Bulkyn-Rackowe — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 11:17:11 GMT

I asked the VMD about a similar case where the owner wanted to obtain Pimobendan for a dog in Columbia. The owner had a written prescription. Similar to Martin's experience, the VMD stated that I could sell this if I wanted and export was at the owner's risk.