What goes into the cost of getting a medicine from abroad

Creator: Reserve Meds
Published: 2026-04-20

A breakdown of the parts that make up the cost, so you know what to ask before you commit.

Reviewed by the Reserve Meds clinical operations team on 18 October 2026. Sources accessed 18 October 2026.

The short answer

The cost of getting a medicine from abroad is made of separate parts: the medicine itself, temperature-controlled shipping, any import or clearance charges, hospital fees for giving the medicine, and the coordination fee. We do not show prices we have not verified, so the price is on request, and your case cost is given in writing, line by line, before you commit.

Medicine: bought through the licensed US supply chain.
Shipping: cold-chain packaging and a temperature record.
Import and hospital: clearance and administration fees where they apply.
Coordination: a written fee for your case before you commit.

Part 1: the medicine

The medicine cost depends on the dose, the length of treatment and the pack size. Medicine costs differ widely from one product to another, which is why we quote your case only after your treating doctor has set the dose and duration.

Investigational medicines through US expanded access are different: a company may charge only with the FDA's prior written authorization, and only its direct costs for an individual patient.^[1]

Part 2: temperature-controlled shipping

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]

Temperature-sensitive medicines travel in suitable containers with temperature monitoring and records, which makes shipping a real part of the cost.

Part 3: import and clearance

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]

Some government services are free and others carry fees, and shipping or clearance charges vary by country. Ask which of these the quote includes.

Part 4: the hospital and follow-up

Fees for giving the medicine, such as an infusion or a day-unit stay.
Tests before and during treatment, such as molecular tests or imaging.
Follow-up visits that the US label requires.
Travel and accommodation if treatment is at a center abroad.

Questions to ask before you accept any quote

Does the price include cold-chain shipping and the temperature record?
Does it include clearance steps, or are those paid separately?
What happens if the shipment is held at customs or the temperature goes out of range?
Is the coordination fee a fixed amount for your case, and is it written down?
Which documents will you receive for an insurance claim?

Part 5: the coordination fee, and how we show it

We give you a written quote that shows the medicine, shipping, import steps and coordination fee separately, before you commit to anything, with no hidden charges. We also give you the invoices and documents insurers usually ask for.

Be wary of prices that look far lower than expected. WHO warns that substandard and falsified products are often sold online or in informal markets.^[4]

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

How much does it cost to get a medicine from abroad?

Quote on request. The cost depends on the medicine, dose, shipping, import steps and coordination, and we give it to you in writing for your case before you commit.

Can a company charge for an investigational medicine?

Under US expanded access, only with the FDA's prior written authorization, and only its direct costs for an individual patient.

Are there hidden charges?

No. Your coordination fee is quoted in writing before you commit, with the other parts listed separately.

Does the cost change if the dose changes?

Yes, because the medicine cost depends on dose and duration. We update the written quote if your doctor changes the plan.

Sources for these answers: ^{[1, 4]}

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: Charging for Investigational Drugs Under an IND, Questions and Answers (February 2024) (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)
World Health Organization: Substandard and falsified medical products (fact sheet) (accessed 18 October 2026)

This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. It does not replace advice from your own doctor or the regulator.