Why quotes for imported specialty medicines vary

Creator: Reserve Meds
Published: 2026-04-20

The parts that make up a quote, and why two quotes for the same medicine can differ.

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

The short answer

Quotes for the same imported medicine can differ because they include different things: the dose and length of treatment, how the medicine is shipped and monitored, which import and clearance steps are included, any hospital care, and the coordination fee. We do not publish prices; every case gets a written custom quote before you commit.

The medicine: dose, pack size and length of treatment.
Getting it there: cold-chain packaging, monitoring and transport.
Import steps: permits, clearance and any local charges.
Coordination: a fee quoted in writing before you commit.

The medicine itself

The amount needed depends on the dose your doctor prescribes, the pack sizes available and how long the treatment lasts. A change in dose or duration changes the quote, which is why a quote needs the prescription first.

Investigational medicines are different. Under US rules, a company may charge for an investigational drug only with the FDA's prior written authorization, and may recover only the direct cost of making it available.^[1]

Keeping the medicine safe on the way

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 need validated packaging and monitoring for the whole journey, so how they are shipped is part of the cost, not an optional extra.

Import, clearance and hospital steps

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]

Depending on the route, there may also be clearance charges in your country, hospital fees for giving the medicine, and tests or follow-up visits that the label requires. Ask which of these a quote includes.

Why a much lower quote deserves questions

The World Health Organization estimates that at least 1 in 10 medicines in low- and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified, and notes that such products are often sold online or in informal markets and include life-saving treatments such as cancer therapies.^[4]

The FDA lists prices that seem too good to be true among the warning signs of an unsafe seller.^[5]

How to compare quotes fairly

Make sure each quote is for the same medicine, dose, quantity and route.
Check whether shipping, temperature monitoring and clearance are included.
Check what happens if the shipment is delayed or the permit is refused.
Ask for the coordination fee as a separate line.

We do not publish prices, because the right figure depends on all of the above. Your coordination fee is quoted in writing for your case before you commit. No hidden charges.

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

Why do two quotes for the same medicine differ?

They often include different things: quantity, shipping and monitoring, clearance steps, hospital care or the coordination fee. Compare them line by line.

Does Reserve Meds publish prices?

No. Medicine price: quote on request. Every case gets a written custom quote before you commit.

Can a company charge for an investigational drug?

In the US, only with the FDA's prior written authorization, and only the direct cost of making it available.

Is a much lower quote a good deal?

Ask questions first. The FDA lists prices that seem too good to be true among the warning signs of unsafe sellers.

Sources for these answers: ^{[1, 5]}

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)
US FDA: How to Buy Medicines Safely From an Online Pharmacy (content current as of 2 January 2025) (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.