A foreign prescription
You arrive in South Africa with a prescription from home that a local pharmacy cannot dispense against directly.
Medical prescriptions
Prescription and medication assistance in South Africa.
For patients who need medication in South Africa, obtaining a prescription based on an overseas prescription can be difficult.
Through our founding director, Dr Inchien Chamisa — a specialist surgeon and registered medical practitioner — PPEV can assist with prescription requirements where clinically appropriate.
The challenge
Where patients most often get stuck.
Chronic medication for family
You need to buy ongoing chronic medication from a South African pharmacy for a relative living in another country.
You need a South African prescription
Your medication needs a prescription from a practitioner registered in South Africa before a local pharmacy can dispense it.
How PPEV assists
A clear path to a lawful prescription.
Tell us
Share what medication is involved and the situation — without sending detailed records through the website.
Consult
You have a consultation with Dr Inchien Chamisa, PPEV’s founding director and a specialist surgeon.
Assess
Dr Chamisa assesses whether a South African prescription is clinically appropriate for your situation.
Obtain
Where a prescription is issued, we can also assist with sourcing and, if needed, dispatching the medication.
Where PPEV is able to assist, prescription assistance is offered at minimal cost. The cost of any consultation and the medication itself is separate and depends on your situation.
Important — please read
- Prescriptions are issued by Dr Inchien Chamisa as a registered medical practitioner, and only where clinically appropriate.
- A consultation is always required first — medication cannot be arranged without one.
- Every prescription remains subject to Dr Chamisa’s clinical judgement, South African law and pharmacy regulation.
- There is no guarantee that a particular medication will be prescribed or supplied in every case.
- Scheduled and controlled substances are subject to stricter rules and may not be possible to assist with.
What to have ready
It helps to gather this first.
- A copy of your current or most recent prescription.
- The names and dosages of the medication you take.
- A short summary of the relevant medical history.
- The country the medication is ultimately for, if it is not for use in South Africa.
Please keep this form for first contact only
Do not submit sensitive medical records or confidential medical information here.
Once we understand your situation, our team will advise you on a secure way to
share any documents that may be needed.
Questions
Prescription assistance, answered.
Can PPEV just get my medication without a consultation?
No. A consultation with Dr Chamisa is always needed before a South African prescription can be issued.
Will I definitely get a prescription?
Not in every case. Whether a prescription is appropriate is a clinical and legal decision. After the consultation, Dr Chamisa will tell you what is possible for your situation.
Can you help with medication for a relative in another country?
We can assist with the process where it is lawful to do so. Some medication cannot be exported or supplied for use in another country, and controlled substances are especially restricted.
How do I share my existing prescription safely?
Get in touch first with a brief message. Your case officer will then give you a secure way to share the prescription and any other documents.
PPEV Medical Tours
Need help with a prescription?
Send a short enquiry and we will explain the next step for your situation.