Government has allowed the import of drugs in small quanitities for personal use and patients requiring them will have to obtain a permit from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, the applicant is required to make an application in Form 12A along with the prescription of the Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) and his registration number, indicating the quantity of drug required for the treatment of the patient.
The rules also permit import of small quantities of drugs for exclusive personal use of the passenger as part of his bona-fide baggage.
"The quantities of any single drug so imported shall not exceed 100 average doses and shall be declared to the custom authorities, if so directed," an order of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the country's apex drug regulator, said.
The government has designated certain port offices of CDSCO from where permissions for import of small quantities of drugs for personal use could be obtained, which include those at airports of IGI Airport, New Delhi, Air Cargo Complex, Chennai, International Air Cargo Complex, Mumbai, New Integrated Cargo Terminal Building, Kolkata, RGI Airport, Hyderabad, Airfreight Terminal, Bengaluru, Air Cargo Complex, Ahmedabad and Port Offices at Custom House, Chennai, New Custom House, Mumbai, Nava Sheva Port, Navi Mumbai, Custom House, Kolkata.
