How to access Mektovi from the UAE, the named-patient import pathway, 2026
By Reserve Meds · Clinical & regulatory team · Last reviewed 2026-04-23
An Emirati patient diagnosed with BRAF V600E or V600K mutant advanced melanoma may receive a prescription for Mektovi (binimetinib) from their treating medical oncologist, to be used in combination with Braftovi (encorafenib). Mektovi is FDA-approved in the United States as part of this targeted combination. In the Kingdom of the UAE, Mektovi may not be uniformly stocked across tertiary oncology centres, which is why your oncologist may be coordinating a named-patient import pathway on your behalf, typically alongside Braftovi as part of the combination regimen.
This guide explains the legal pathway, what documentation your physician needs, typical timing and how quotes work, and where Reserve Meds fits in.
Ask about Mektovi in UAE
Tell us the medicine and your country. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.
The clinical situation
Mektovi is an oral selective MEK1/MEK2 kinase inhibitor. It is used in combination with encorafenib (Braftovi) for BRAF V600E/K mutant advanced melanoma to improve response durability and tolerability versus BRAF-inhibitor monotherapy. The manufacturer is Pfizer. Dosing is typically 45 mg orally twice daily continuously. Monitoring includes cardiac function (LVEF), ocular adverse events (retinal vein occlusion, retinopathy), rhabdomyolysis/CPK, liver enzymes, and venous thromboembolism. Your oncologist will confirm BRAF status and combination planning.
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Is Mektovi legally importable into the UAE?
Yes, through the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) named-patient import framework. The UAE has a mature named-patient mechanism that has supported cross-border access to specialised oncology products for many years, including combination targeted therapies.
The MoHAP named-patient route allows an Emirati-licensed physician to request import of a medicine that is not locally registered when: (a) the medicine has been approved by a recognised reference authority (FDA qualifies), (b) there is no clinically equivalent locally registered alternative, (c) the treating physician takes clinical responsibility for use, and (d) the importing party documents chain of custody from the US source to the administering facility. Combination-regimen applications are filed as a linked pair where appropriate.
How the pathway works, step by step
- Consultation with your treating oncologist. The decision to prescribe Mektovi in combination with Braftovi is clinical, based on BRAF status and disease burden. Your oncologist documents the rationale.
- Administering facility identification. An Emirati tertiary oncology centre with an importing pharmacy files on behalf of the physician.
- MoHAP named-patient application. Your physician or the hospital's importing pharmacy files an application with MoHAP including clinical rationale, the combination regimen, patient identifier, product details, and chain-of-custody plan.
- US-side sourcing. Reserve Meds coordinates with our US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner to secure product from the manufacturer's authorised distribution chain under DSCSA.
- Temperature-controlled shipment. Mektovi is a stable oral tablet; shipments travel with tamper-evident packaging and end-to-end documentation.
- Arrival and dispensing support. Your oncologist remains the treating clinician. Reserve Meds coordinates re-supply ahead of cycle end to avoid treatment gaps.
What documentation your physician needs
Your physician will typically need to provide:
- A clinical rationale letter confirming BRAF status, combination regimen, prior therapies, and Mektovi as the indicated treatment
- Verification of their UAE medical licence (SCFHS / MOH)
- A current prescription naming the product, strength, and quantity
- Patient identifier (anonymised reference preferred)
- The planned treatment cadence (continuous twice-daily therapy with monthly re-supply)
Reserve Meds provides a physician documentation kit that bundles the templates MoHAP reviewers expect to see for combination oncology regimens under named-patient import.
Costs and timing
Medicine price: quote on request. You get a written quote for your case before you commit. The combination partner (Braftovi) is costed separately. Logistics, MoHAP documentation handling, and coordination add incremental cost; Reserve Meds issues a full transparent quote at the start of intake.
We give you a written timeline estimate for your case before you commit. Subsequent re-supply cycles are generally faster once the pathway is established.
If your clinical situation is time-sensitive, tell us at intake. We triage accordingly.
A brief culturally-aware note: Ramadan and Hajj seasons can affect scheduling across the UAE tertiary centres. Our team coordinates re-supply timing with your family's preferences and your hospital's calendar.
Reserve Meds's role
Reserve Meds is a US-based digital health company that coordinates access to cross-border specialty medicine. For Mektovi specifically, we provide:
- Sourcing. Through our US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner, operating under DSCSA chain-of-custody.
- Documentation. Regulatory documentation package for your physician and for MoHAP review, covering the full combination regimen.
- Logistics. Temperature-stable shipment and chain-of-custody coordination.
- Dedicated case lead. A named point of contact for your family and your physician throughout the process.
What we do not do: we are not the prescriber, we do not practise medicine, and we are not the dispensing pharmacy. All clinical decisions remain with your treating oncologist.
Frequently asked
Is this legal in the UAE? Yes, when executed through the MoHAP named-patient framework with appropriate documentation. See our trust and compliance page.
Can Mektovi and Braftovi be coordinated together? Yes, the combination is standard of care; we coordinate both components under a single case.
What about ocular side effects? MEK inhibitors can cause retinopathy or retinal vein occlusion. Your oncologist will arrange baseline and periodic ophthalmology review. We coordinate supply, not clinical surveillance.
Will private insurance cover this? Cash-pay is the default. Some UAE private insurers reimburse named-patient imports on case-by-case approval; we supply documentation for your submission but do not process insurance claims directly.
Next step
For Mektovi coordination in the UAE, start your case at the portal or message us on WhatsApp. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.
Examples and timings above are composite illustrations drawn from published sources and typical named-patient patterns. Your individual case is assessed by your physician and our clinical-regulatory team; Reserve Meds does not guarantee outcomes or timelines.
Reviewed by the Reserve Meds clinical operations team. Last reviewed: 2026-04-23.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai
This guide covers the whole UAE, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. At federal level, medicines are regulated by the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). MOHAP also issues permits to import medicines for personal use. Hospitals, clinics and doctors are licensed by the health authority of their own emirate: the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH) in Abu Dhabi, and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in Dubai.
In practice, the hospital that treats you follows the rules of its own emirate, so the paperwork is prepared for that hospital. Tell us which hospital or doctor is treating you, in Abu Dhabi, Dubai or another emirate, and we prepare the document pack for that route.
Sources: Department of Health Abu Dhabi; Dubai Health Authority, Health Regulation Sector; MOHAP, permit to import medicines for personal use; Simmons & Simmons, UAE pharmaceutical law and the Emirates Drug Establishment.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get Mektovi in the UAE if it is not approved or available there?
Reserve Meds coordinates US-sourced Mektovi for patients in the UAE through a legal named-patient pathway, working with your treating doctor. Your treating physician provides the prescription and clinical justification; Reserve Meds prepares the named-patient documentation for the UAE and arranges DSCSA-compliant US sourcing and delivery to your physician or hospital pharmacy.
Can I access Mektovi in the UAE through a named-patient import?
Often, yes. Named-patient access (sometimes called personal import) is the legal route we use for FDA-approved medicines such as Mektovi. It is different from compassionate use, which covers investigational medicines through the manufacturer's own program; we do not supply investigational medicines. Eligibility and paperwork depend on the regulator in the UAE, and Reserve Meds maps the specific pathway for each market it coordinates.
Do I need a prescription to access Mektovi in the UAE through Reserve Meds?
Yes. Reserve Meds is not a pharmacy and does not prescribe. A valid prescription and clinical justification from your treating physician are required, and all clinical decisions remain with your physician.
How does Reserve Meds deliver Mektovi to a patient in the UAE?
Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner, and Reserve Meds coordinates delivery of Mektovi to your treating physician or hospital pharmacy in the UAE, with appropriate handling for the product.
How long does it take, and what does Mektovi in the UAE cost through Reserve Meds?
After a short intake, the clinical team responds within one business day with case-specific feasibility, an indicative timeline, and a formal written quote. Cost depends on the destination, the prescribed regimen, and the duration of therapy, and is confirmed in writing before anything proceeds.
How do I start a request for Mektovi in the UAE?
Submit a 60-second intake through the Reserve Meds patient portal, or message our team on WhatsApp. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.