Almost any medicine can be purchased online from abroad. Many high-income countries permit individuals to import medicines for their personal use. However, those who import medicines face the risk of purchasing poor-quality products that may not work, or that may even harm them. Many people are willing to accept this risk for the opportunity to …

Do doctors have a responsibility to help patients import medicines from abroad? Read More »

A significant proportion of Australians defer or do not fill prescriptions they require due to cost. This article explores whether, and under what circumstances, physicians have a duty to assist these patients by disclosing how they can access more affordable medicines via personal importation. (Objective) Methods This study involved a critical examination of Australian statutory …

Physicians’ legal duty to disclose more cost-effective treatment options: an examination of Australian civil law applied to personal importation Read More »

The personal importation scheme is a legislative mechanism that allows health consumers to import unapproved medicines under certain conditions. This article analyses the legal and policy basis for the scheme and considers how reforms to advertising laws for therapeutic goods may restrict communications about it. The article represents the first published analysis of the personal …

Promoting the personal importation of therapeutic goods: recent legislative amendments to advertising regulations may impact consumer access and understanding Read More »