Articles & guides
Plain-language guides to international specialty drug access, how Named Patient Programs work, country-by-country regulatory pathways, and what patients and physicians need to know before they request.
Understanding Named Patient Programs
An introduction to how Named Patient Programs enable access to specialty drugs.
How Cross-Border Prescriptions Work
A walkthrough of the physician and regulatory steps.
What is DSCSA and Why It Matters
The Drug Supply Chain Security Act explained for international patients.
Rare Disease Access, A Global View
How different countries handle rare-disease drug access.
Questions to Ask Before Ordering Specialty Drugs Internationally
Key questions patients should ask.
The Difference Between NPP and Clinical Trials
How named-patient access differs from participating in a trial.
How Patients in the UAE Access Unregistered Drugs
A patient-centric guide to UAE's MOHAP and DoH pathways.
A Guide to Access Pathways in Saudi Arabia
SFDA Personal Import for patients and physicians.
Rule 36 Explained, India's Personal Import Pathway
How India's CDSCO personal-import rules work.
The Role of the Treating Physician in Cross-Border Access
Physician obligations and best practices.
Why Prepayment Is the Standard for NPP
Economic and regulatory reasons behind patient prepay.
Specialty Drug Storage and Cold Chain Basics
How temperature-controlled specialty drugs are handled.
How to Prepare for a First Shipment
A checklist for patients receiving international specialty drugs.
Understanding Orphan Drug Designation
What orphan designation means for access.
Gene Therapy Access, What to Know
Special considerations for gene-therapy access.
Insurance and Reimbursement for International Drugs
The reimbursement landscape for NPP drugs.
Counterfeit Drug Risk, How to Protect Yourself
How to verify legitimate supply chains.
Serialization and Chain of Custody
How DSCSA serialization protects patients.
The FDA, EMA, and International Approvals, A Primer
How different regulators relate to named-patient access.
Patient Stories, Rare Disease Access Journeys
Anonymized stories of cross-border access.
Working with Your Hospital Ethics Committee
How to navigate IEC/IRB approval for NPP.
Pediatric Rare Disease, Access Considerations
Special pediatric access considerations.
Oncology NPP, A Patient Primer
Cross-border access for oncology patients.
Immunology and Rheumatology NPP Access
Cross-border access in immunology.
Hematology NPP, Sickle Cell, Hemophilia, and More
Access for hematology patients.
Neurology NPP, ALS, MS, SMA, and More
Access for neurology patients.
What Physicians Need to Know About NPP Documentation
Physician documentation best practices.
The Ethics of Cross-Border Specialty Drug Access
Ethical considerations for patients and providers.
Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Event Reporting for NPP
AE reporting responsibilities in NPP.
Global Rare Disease Day, Why Access Matters
The broader access conversation.
How Manufacturers Design NPP Programs
A look inside manufacturer NPP strategies.
The Future of Cross-Border Drug Access
Emerging trends in global drug access.
Patient Assistance Programs, A Primer
Manufacturer and foundation-based patient assistance.
Travelling with Specialty Drugs, Practical Tips
Tips for patients carrying specialty drugs.
A Glossary of NPP and Access Terms
Definitions of common cross-border access terms.
Cross-Border Oncology, A Patient's Guide
Oncology-specific guide.
The Importance of Physician Oversight in NPP
Why physician oversight is essential.
When a Drug Is Not Registered, Your Options
What patients should consider.
Q&A, Common Patient Questions About NPP
Patient FAQs about NPP.
How to Read an NPP Approval Letter
Understanding approval-letter language.
Reviewed 2026-04-22 · Next review: 2026-10-22