Buying medicine in another EU country

You can get your prescription medicine from a pharmacy abroad, though you might have to wait until you get home to get reimbursed. In this section, read about buying non-prescription and prescription medicines, including buying online. 


Find out about:


A prescription delivered by a doctor in one EU country is valid in all other EU countries. However, a medicine prescribed in one country might not be available or it may have another name abroad.

When buying medicine on prescription abroad, you might have to pay the full cost up front. You can claim reimbursement from your health insurer when you get home, if the medicine is covered by your national health insurance.

The types of non-prescription medicine that you can purchase online depend on the EU country to which you want the medicine shipped. There are no EU rules on buying prescription medicine online. Some EU countries allow it, but some do not. 

Last checked: 21/06/2023
Share this page