How to read a written quote for an imported medicine
What each line should tell you, and what to ask before you sign.
Reviewed by the Reserve Meds clinical operations team on 18 October 2026. Sources accessed 18 October 2026.
The short answer
A clear written quote for an imported medicine names the exact medicine, strength and quantity, lists shipping and temperature monitoring, says which import and clearance steps are included, shows the coordination fee separately, states what is not included, and gives a validity date and refund terms. If a line is unclear, ask before you sign.
- Top of the quote: medicine, strength, quantity and route.
- Middle: shipping, monitoring, clearance and coordination, each on its own line.
- Bottom: what is not included, validity, payment and refund terms.
- Before signing: check it matches the prescription.
The medicine line
- Brand and generic name, strength and pack size, exactly as on the prescription.
- Quantity, and how long it covers at the prescribed dose.
- Where it is supplied from, and the name of the licensed supplier.
US wholesale drug distributors and third-party logistics providers must be appropriately licensed and must report their licensure to the FDA every year to count as authorized trading partners under that law. The FDA publishes the reports in a searchable database that is updated every business day. A listing is not an FDA licence or approval in itself: the licence is issued by the state, and the database helps you see that a company has reported one.[1]
The shipping and custody lines
WHO's good storage and distribution practices note that medical products face risks at every stage, from purchasing and storage to repackaging, relabelling, transport and distribution, and that many different people and organizations handle them along the way.[2]
- Type of packaging and the temperature range it is qualified for.
- Whether a temperature record is included and who reviews it on arrival.
- What happens if customs holds the parcel.
The import and clearance lines
Rules for unregistered medicines are set by each destination country. In Bahrain, for example, NHRA Circular 41 of 2020 requires a hospital to obtain the authority's permission before it issues a purchase order for a non-registered medicine, and to transport and store the product in containers that follow the manufacturer's recommended conditions.[3]
The quote should say who files the permit request, which documents you or your doctor must supply, and whether any clearance or local charges are included or paid separately.
The coordination fee
The coordination fee should be its own line, not mixed into the medicine cost, so you can see what you are paying for the service itself. At Reserve Meds, your coordination fee is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.
What is often left out
- Hospital fees for giving the medicine, such as an infusion or day-unit stay.
- Tests or follow-up visits that the medicine's label requires.
- Travel and accommodation if treatment is given at a center abroad.
- Bank or transfer charges.
A good quote says clearly which of these are not included, so there are no surprises later.
Validity, payment and refunds
At Reserve Meds, prepayment is required, and the currency, payment method and refund terms are set out in your written quote and case documents, as our terms explain. You can ask questions or cancel at any point before payment, as described on How it works.
How Reserve Meds helps
Reserve Meds is a digital health company. Medicines are supplied through a US-licensed pharmaceutical wholesale partner. We coordinate the route with your treating doctor and hospital, prepare the paperwork the regulator or hospital asks for, and arrange supply once approval is in place. Your doctor prescribes and makes every medical decision. You can ask us for our wholesale partner's licence details, and you get your quote and timeline estimate in writing before you commit.
We coordinate access to FDA-approved medicines only. Investigational medicines are only available through a manufacturer's expanded-access program requested by the treating physician; we can explain that route, but we do not supply them. Your coordination fee is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges. We give you a written timeline estimate for your case before you commit.
Ask us about a medicine
Tell us the medicine, your country and a WhatsApp or phone number. We reply within one business day. On WhatsApp we usually reply the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Should the coordination fee be separate from the medicine cost?
Yes. A separate line shows you what you are paying for the service itself.
What if the quote does not name the supplier?
Ask for the supplier's name and licence details before you sign.
What is usually not included?
Hospital administration fees, required tests and follow-up, travel if treatment is abroad, and bank charges. A good quote says so.
Where are refund terms?
At Reserve Meds, in your written quote and case documents, before you pay.
Sources for these answers: [1, 2]
Sources
All sources were opened and checked on 18 October 2026. Rules and labels change, so the treating hospital or regulator confirms the current position before anything is filed.
- US FDA: Annual Licensure Reporting by Wholesale Drug Distributors and Third-Party Logistics Providers (accessed 18 October 2026)
- World Health Organization: TRS 1025, Annex 7, Good storage and distribution practices for medical products (17 June 2020) (accessed 18 October 2026)
- NHRA Bahrain: Circular No. (41) of 2020, procedures for importing non-registered medicines (accessed 18 October 2026)
Related
- What goes into the cost
- Why quotes vary
- Questions to ask before you start
- Checklist for patients and families
- Reserve Meds vs Everyone.org: which fits a Gulf family?
- Answers to common access questions
- اقرأ هذه الصفحة بالعربية
This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. It does not replace advice from your own doctor or the regulator.