EU Medicine Access & Online Pharmacy Guide

Medicine access across the EU

European Union rules make it easier for patients to use prescriptions and access healthcare across national borders, but there is no single EU-wide system governing every aspect of buying medicines online.

A prescription issued by a healthcare professional in one EU country is generally recognised in other EU countries. However, the medicine must be available in the country where it is dispensed, and the pharmacist follows that country’s national dispensing rules.

Online pharmacy rules also differ between countries. In particular, the EU does not have one rule allowing prescription medicines to be sold online throughout the Union. Individual countries determine which medicines may legally be supplied online and under what conditions.

EU-wide medicine authorisation does not necessarily mean immediate access in every member state either. For example, Rasonque (daraxonrasib) recently moved closer to EU authorisation for metastatic pancreatic cancer, but even after a European Commission approval, pricing, reimbursement and routine patient access would still be determined through national processes.

Explore medicine access in the EU

Why the rules differ between EU countries

EU law provides important cross-border patient rights and a common framework for identifying legally operating online medicine retailers. It does not, however, replace national pharmacy and dispensing law.

This distinction is especially important online. The European Commission states that EU countries may impose their own conditions and limitations on the retail supply of medicines, including whether prescription medicines may be sold online.

The practical answer to a question such as “Can I order this medicine online?” can therefore depend on where the pharmacy is established, where the patient is located, whether the medicine requires a prescription and the national rules that apply.

Using a prescription in another EU country

EU cross-border healthcare rules generally allow a prescription issued in one EU country to be presented in another. There is no special EU prescription form, but the prescription needs enough information to identify the patient, prescriber and prescribed medicine.

Availability is not guaranteed. A medicine may have a different brand name in another country, may not be authorised there or may simply not be available. The dispensing pharmacy also applies its own country’s rules, including relevant validity, quantity or dispensing restrictions.

Electronic prescriptions require additional care. Some countries can exchange ePrescriptions electronically through EU cross-border health infrastructure, but this does not yet mean that every ePrescription can be used electronically in every EU country.

Read our guide to using an EU prescription in another country

Learn about cross-border ePrescriptions and MyHealth@EU

Paying for medicine abroad

Using a prescription in another EU country does not necessarily mean that the pharmacy will apply the same price or reimbursement arrangements that apply at home.

Patients using a cross-border prescription may need to pay the full pharmacy price and then request reimbursement from their health insurer. Whether reimbursement is available depends on the patient’s cover and the applicable national rules.

Keep the pharmacy receipt and any supporting documentation if you intend to seek reimbursement after returning home.

Read our guide to prescription costs and reimbursement across the EU